Attorney General Kris Mayes Issues Cryptocurrency ATM Scam Alert, Launches New Fraud Complaint Form

PHOENIX — Today, Attorney General Kris Mayes is warning Arizonans about the rising threat of cryptocurrency ATM scams and has launched a new fraud complaint form for Arizonans to report if they have been victimized within 30 days of being scammed. Scammers are increasingly targeting consumers–especially older adults–by deceiving them into depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs. In 2024 alone, Arizonans lost over $177 million in savings to these fraudulent schemes.

"Fraudsters are increasingly using bitcoin ATMS to victimize Arizonans—scammers stole more than $170 million from Arizonans last year using these crypto kiosks," said Attorney General Kris Mayes. "My message to Arizonans is this: be careful around the physical cryptocurrency ATMs we're seeing pop up around the state. If you're being directed to use one, there's a very very high chance you're being scammed." 

These scams frequently begin with an unexpected phone call, email or text message. The caller may claim the victim  is in legal trouble, that a bank account have been compromised, or that an urgent debt is owed. Scammers frequently impersonate loved ones, law enforcement, utility companies, or financial institutions to build trust. Victims are then pressured to withdraw cash from their bank and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM. Once deposited, the funds are transferred directly to the scammer’s account and are nearly impossible to recover.

Crypto ATMs look like bank ATMs and are increasingly located in gas stations, grocery stores, and other retailers. Arizona has approximately 600 cryptocurrency ATMs across the state. Scammers like to request crypto because it lacks many of the same protections that other payment forms provide and is hard to trace once the money is sent. In 2024, the FBI reported a 99% increase in complaints of fraud involving cryptocurrency ATMs and more than two thirds of the victims of cryptocurrency ATM fraud were over 60 years old. The Attorney General of Washington D.C. recently filed a lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin, a major crypto ATM operator, which alleged that a staggering 93% of deposits to the company’s crypto ATMs were due to scams.

To help protect consumers, Arizona has enacted new laws that limit the amount of money that can be sent through cryptocurrency ATMs. This law also helps new users of cryptocurrency ATMs to recover money that has been lost through a scam if you contact the Attorney General’s Office or other law enforcement quickly.  

“Arizonans should take every precaution when using cryptocurrency ATMs and should never use them to send money to people they don’t know,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Attorney General Mayes wants to remind consumers of these tips to better avoid becoming a victim of a Cryptocurrency ATM scam:

• No legitimate company or government will ever ask for a deposit into a cryptocurrency  ATM. Any such request is almost certainly a scam.
• Be cautious of urgent requests – scammers often pressure individuals to act quickly, hoping they’ll make hasty decisions or deposits.  
• Don’t rely on Caller ID – Fraudsters can disguise their number to appear legitimate. Always verify the caller's identity independently.
• Don’t rely on email or text messages - Fraudsters can imitate emails and text messages to appear legitimate.
• If asked to make a  withdrawal, contact your bank directly using a phone number you find yourself – never use a number provided in a call, text, or email. Always confirm unusual requests with your bank using official contact information, even if you are told not to notify your bank by the caller.   
• Treat unsolicited requests for payment with suspicion – unexpected texts, calls, or emails from unfamiliar sources are often scams. DO not send money to someone you have not met in person.
• Independently verify any claims – call your bank, the law enforcement agency, the government office, or the relative in question using contact information you find yourself.
• If someone pressures you to deposit cryptocurrency or make a rushed payment, end the conversation immediately.  
• Speak with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor in person before making any large financial transactions.

If you feel you are the victim of a scam and paid money through a cryptocurrency ATM, it is important that you contact the cryptocurrency ATM company and the Attorney General’s Office or other law enforcement within 30 days.

✅ Crypto ATM Scam Victim Action Checklist

• If you’re in Arizona and a new customer, you may qualify for a refund under HB2387 if you complete the following actions within 30 days:
  1. Save receipts from the ATM.
  2. Immediately file and obtain a report and provide all evidence to your local law enforcement agency or the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
  3. Call the kiosk operator’s support number (usually on the machine). Report the situation and provide transaction details.

If you believe you have been a victim of cryptocurrency fraud, file a consumer complaint at https://www.azag.gov/consumer/topics/crypto. If you need a complaint form sent to you, you can contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.