The FBI’s IC3 reported roughly $333.5 million in U.S. losses tied to bitcoin and crypto ATMs in 2025, with more than 12,000 complaints. Scams commonly involved impostor bank or tech‑support schemes directing largely older victims to deposit cash at kiosks, prompting calls for stronger operator controls and public warnings.

In 2025 the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center documented an unprecedented surge in losses tied to bitcoin and other cryptocurrency ATMs, totaling about $333.5 million across more than 12,000 complaints. Investigators and consumer advocates say the bulk of incidents involved impostor schemes — callers posing as banks, government agencies or tech support — instructing victims to convert cash to crypto at kiosks and immediately transfer funds to fraudsters. Victim profiles skew older, increasing concerns about targeted social‑engineering. Industry and regulators warn that on‑ramp ATM transfers are effectively irreversible, leaving victims little recourse once funds move on‑chain. The spike has prompted calls for stronger controls by ATM operators, enhanced identity and transaction monitoring, clearer consumer warnings at kiosks, and coordination between kiosk owners and law enforcement to freeze flows when possible. Advocates also urge broader public education about the irretrievable nature of crypto transfers and the common impersonation tactics used to drive physical cash deposits into kiosk networks.