TLDR
Scammer impersonates police, IRS or 'Amazon security', tells victim their identity has been used in money laundering and they must move funds to a 'secure federal locker' via a Bitcoin ATM (Coinme, Bitcoin Depot). FBI IC3 reported 10,956...
How it works
Scammer impersonates police, IRS or 'Amazon security', tells victim their identity has been used in money laundering and they must move funds to a 'secure federal locker' via a Bitcoin ATM (Coinme, Bitcoin Depot). FBI IC3 reported 10,956...
Red flags
- Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
- A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
- Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What to do
- 1FBI IC3 reported 10,956 complaints and $246.7M lost in 2024, a 99% rise.
- 2IF VICTIM: report at ic3.gov, contact kiosk operator immediately (some operators like Bitcoin Depot have refund pilot for seniors), notify local FBI field office.
Source
FAQ
Is Crypto ATM / kiosk fraud — fake authority cash funnel a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What should I do first?
FBI IC3 reported 10,956 complaints and $246.7M lost in 2024, a 99% rise.; IF VICTIM: report at ic3.gov, contact kiosk operator immediately (some operators like Bitcoin Depot have refund pilot for seniors), notify local FBI field office.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.