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in Crypto Investment Scams
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Idaho's Attorney General warned of a surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting seniors, with reported losses jumping from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024. Scammers use fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes to trick victims into depositing cash at cryptocurrency ATMs located in gas stations and convenience stores, where transactions are untraceable and recovery is nearly impossible. One alert convenience store employee prevented two seniors from losing over $30,000 in a single week by unplugging the machine and calling police.
ag.ny.gov
· 2025-12-07
New York Attorney General Letitia James warned of the "Phantom Hacker" scam, a three-phase coordinated fraud targeting seniors that has stolen over $1 billion since 2024 by impersonating banks and government agencies to gain remote computer access and convince victims to transfer retirement savings via wire, cash, or cryptocurrency. The scam begins with a fake security alert prompting victims to download malware, followed by impersonators claiming to be from the victim's bank and a government agency, creating a false sense of legitimacy to steal funds. The AG advises New Yorkers to avoid clicking unsolicited links, calling provided numbers, granting remote computer access, or transferring
upworthy.com
· 2025-12-07
A Canadian bank teller prevented a senior citizen from losing $9,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam. The elderly customer had clicked on a Facebook advertisement months earlier, deposited a few hundred dollars, and was now being told he needed to pay $9,000 upfront to access supposedly generated earnings of $90,000 USD—a classic advance-fee cryptocurrency fraud. The alert teller recognized the scam, showed the customer evidence from Reddit's scam community, and successfully convinced him not to proceed, limiting his actual loss to the initial small deposits.
law360.com
· 2025-12-07
I don't have access to the full article content—only the header and subscription information are visible. To provide an accurate summary for the Elderus database, I would need the complete article text describing the specific allegations against the crypto ATM operator, details about which seniors were affected, the amounts involved, and the outcome of DC's case. Could you please share the full article?
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding communications. The article provides 10 protective strategies for seniors, including not answering unknown numbers, rejecting unsolicited calls from government agencies, never sharing personal information over the phone, resisting pressure tactics and unusual payment requests (gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency), verifying impersonators through independent sources, consulting trusted contacts before responding to suspicious requests, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
forbes.com
· 2025-12-07
In February 2024, former U.S. Ambassador Cindy Dyer testified to the Senate about the connection between human trafficking abroad and romance scams targeting older Americans, noting that scam centers in Southeast Asia—particularly Cambodia—force trafficking victims to defraud Americans out of millions of dollars and life savings. The FTC estimated that Americans lost $158 billion to all fraud in 2023, with older Americans reporting $277 million in romance scam losses that year, though actual figures are likely much higher due to underreporting. Experts stress that international cooperation is essential to combat these overseas-based scams, but such efforts have been hindered by reduced foreign aid and weakened international all
sebastopoltimes.com
· 2025-12-07
A Sebastopol resident, Shai Plonski, fell victim to a romance scam in 2022 that began on Facebook and involved a fake cryptocurrency trading app, resulting in financial loss. The scam is part of a larger trafficking operation where workers from underdeveloped countries are smuggled across borders, imprisoned, and forced under threat of violence to perpetrate romance scams (known as "pig butchering") to repay their traffickers. Plonski is now publicly sharing his experience through a YouTube video to help prevent others from becoming victims of these operations, which are often linked to organized crime and generate millions by exploiting both the trafficked workers and their romance scam victims
yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
An 85-year-old grandmother nearly fell victim to an imposter scam when scammers posing as her bank claimed she owed $50,000 in fraudulent charges, then connected her with someone impersonating an FTC official who pressured her to purchase prepaid debit cards for payment. According to the FTC, fraud losses for seniors have surged dramatically, with losses of $10,000 or more quadrupling between 2020 and 2024, as scammers exploit fear and use untraceable payment methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, and prepaid cards. Key protective measures include recognizing red flags such as unexpected contact from institutions, requests for unusual payment
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year, with older adults facing particular vulnerability. North Carolina's "Fraud Free Fridays" program offers free monthly educational sessions (broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube) covering emerging scams including cryptocurrency, AI fraud, and holiday schemes, while AARP's Fraud Watch Network provides resources, alerts, and guidance to help people recognize and report fraud in their communities.
cheapism.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, Americans lost $12.5 billion to scams, with adults over 60 being frequent targets due to their savings, limited digital experience, and trust in official-sounding messages. Modern scammers employ sophisticated tactics like AI voice cloning and deepfake videos to impersonate loved ones and government agencies. The article provides ten practical tips for seniors to avoid scams, including not answering unknown numbers, never sharing personal information over the phone, recognizing pressure tactics, avoiding unusual payment methods, verifying identities through trusted sources, and enabling two-factor authentication on accounts.
thealabamabaptist.org
· 2025-12-07
Romance scams, increasingly prevalent on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, target vulnerable older adults—particularly widows and widowers—by creating fake identities to extract money and financial information. According to Advocating Against Romance Scammers (AARS), perpetrators use fabricated stories (such as being stranded overseas or in jail) to convince victims to send money, with one documented case involving a widow losing over $40,000. Scammers typically initiate contact on public platforms, move conversations to encrypted messaging apps to avoid law enforcement detection, and exploit emotional vulnerabilities and declining cognitive health in their victims.
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
A cryptocurrency user lost approximately $180,000 through a phishing scam, part of a broader August 2025 trend where phishing attacks cost crypto users over $12 million and affected 15,230 victims, with a particularly sophisticated variant called EIP-7702 signature scams responsible for $5.6 million in losses. Scammers used deceptive emails and communications mimicking legitimate services to trick victims into signing fraudulent transactions that drained their funds. Protection measures include verifying URLs, using two-factor authentication, never sharing seed phrases or passwords, and remaining vigilant about suspicious communications.
staysafeonline.org
· 2025-12-07
Social Security scams, among the most common frauds targeting Americans, involve criminals impersonating SSA, OIG, or DOJ officials through phone, email, text, or social media to steal money or personal information. Red flags include claims of suspicious activity or benefit increases, pressure to act immediately, and requests for payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers—methods the SSA will never use. Victims should hang up, avoid clicking links, never send money through untraceable methods, and report scams to SSA OIG, USA.gov, or the FBI's IC3 to protect themselves and others.
aljazeera.com
· 2025-12-07
The United States sanctioned nearly 20 companies and individuals in Myanmar and Cambodia for operating multibillion-dollar scam centers that victimize Americans and exploit trafficked workers. Americans lost over $10 billion to these Southeast Asian scam operations in the previous year, with the schemes—known as "pig-butchering"—targeting victims through fake investment opportunities while many scam operators are themselves enslaved trafficking victims. The sanctions targeted key figures in Myanmar's Shwe Kokko city and Cambodian scam compounds, with estimates suggesting approximately 150,000 trapped victims in Cambodia and 100,000 in Myanmar.
newsweek.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, the FBI recorded 147,127 scam reports involving Americans age 60 and over, resulting in nearly $5 billion in stolen funds. Arizona had the highest rate of fraud complaints among seniors (88.3 per 100,000 people age 60+), followed by Indiana and Nevada, with imposter scams and tech support scams being the most common types. Experts note that seniors should be alert to unsolicited contacts, unusual payment methods, and pressure to act urgently, as scam attempts and underreporting vary significantly by state.
wusa9.com
· 2025-12-07
The D.C. Attorney General sued Athena Bitcoin ATMs after one victim lost nearly $100,000 in a week to crypto ATM scams, with 93% of all D.C. deposits linked to fraud. Scammers used phone calls impersonating government or bank officials to pressure elderly victims into depositing money into crypto ATMs, which cannot be recovered, while Athena profited from undisclosed fees up to 26% and failed to stop fraudulent transactions despite knowing about them. The investigation found a median loss of $8,000 per scam transaction, with the company accused of violating consumer protection and elder abuse laws.
oag.dc.gov
· 2025-12-07
The DC Attorney General sued Athena Bitcoin, Inc., one of the largest Bitcoin ATM operators in the U.S., for charging undisclosed fees (up to 26%) on deposits and failing to implement adequate anti-fraud safeguards while maintaining a strict no-refund policy for scam victims. According to the investigation, 93% of Athena BTM deposits in DC were scam-related, with victims having a median age of 71 and median loss of $8,000 per transaction (one victim lost $98,000 across 19 transactions). The lawsuit alleges Athena knowingly facilitates fraud, illegally profits from hidden fees, and violates
ainvest.com
· 2025-12-07
Singapore reported S$456 million in fraud losses during the first half of 2025, a decline from the previous year, though cryptocurrency scams remained a significant concern accounting for S$81.6 million (18% of total losses), with Tether, Bitcoin, and Ethereum being the primary targets. Victims were predominantly aged 30-49 and fell prey to investment scams, job fraud, and phishing schemes, while authorities recovered S$56.7 million in fraudulent funds and prevented S$179 million in potential losses through collaborative efforts.
coconutcreektalk.com
· 2025-12-07
Coconut Creek Police warned residents of a cryptocurrency scam targeting Bitcoin and Coinbase users after a local woman was deceived via text message into surrendering access to her Coinbase account when scammers falsely claimed her password had been changed. The incident is part of a broader trend where criminals contact victims through email, text, or phone calls using urgent language to extract sensitive information. Police advise residents to disregard suspicious messages and never share account details with unsolicited contacts claiming to represent financial or cryptocurrency institutions.
dailyhodl.com
· 2025-12-07
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City reported that U.S. consumers lost $8.9 billion to scams in 2024, more than tripling from $2.6 billion in 2020, with investment scams and imposter fraud accounting for 60% of losses. Investment scams experienced the most dramatic growth with losses increasing nearly twelvefold, while scammers shifted to more effective digital contact methods like social media and mobile apps, and increasingly use cryptocurrency (40% of investment fraud payments) and bank transfers. Financial institutions and payment providers are urged to develop tools that quickly identify and intercept scam payments before they reach fraudsters.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
World Liberty Financial's WLFI token, associated with the Trump family, launched on September 1st and experienced significant volatility, initially reaching $0.46 before plummeting to $0.16 within days amid accusations of being a "scam" from users, analysts, and Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, with the project freezing 272 wallets including TRON founder Justin Sun's allegedly linked to phishing scams. Despite the controversy and lack of concrete evidence of insider fraud, WLFI has since recovered to trade at $0.238 with a $5.9 billion market cap, though it remains 48.5
toronto.citynews.ca
· 2025-12-07
In 2025, anti-fraud consultant Vanessa Iafolla highlights the often-overlooked emotional and psychological impact of financial fraud on victims, noting that shame, loss of self-worth, and mental health deterioration can be as damaging as the financial losses themselves. With over 17,000 Canadians falling victim to fraud so far that year, totaling $342 million in losses, Iafolla is pursuing counseling therapy certification to provide specialized mental health support to fraud victims and help destigmatize their experiences. She emphasizes that victims often avoid coming forward due to shame and societal judgment, which increases their vulnerability to being scammed again.
trmlabs.com
· 2025-12-07
This resource is a law enforcement guide for investigating cryptocurrency-enabled scams, which have caused at least $53 billion in losses since 2023, with figures likely underreported due to delayed victim reporting. The guide provides investigators with essential terminology, investigation methodologies, and blockchain forensics techniques to trace fraudulent cryptocurrency transactions and identify the real-world controllers behind pseudonymous addresses. It serves as a practical manual for police and law enforcement professionals to understand and combat crypto-related investment scams, phishing schemes, and other cryptocurrency fraud.
cointelegraph.com
· 2025-12-07
Phishing scams targeting cryptocurrency users cost over $12 million in August 2024, a 72% increase from July, impacting 15,230 victims with one user losing over $3 million, according to Web3 anti-scam service Scam Sniffer. A particularly dangerous variant exploiting EIP-7702 Ethereum signatures drained an additional $5.6 million across three attacks, highlighting the escalating sophistication of crypto fraud schemes that have stolen $163 million in total malicious activity during the month.
amarillo.com
· 2025-12-07
An Amarillo resident fell victim to an employment scam in August 2025 after depositing fraudulent checks from a fake remote personal assistant job posting and transferring the funds through a Bitcoin ATM. Amarillo Police Department's Financial Crimes Unit tracked the cryptocurrency across digital wallets and exchanges, successfully freezing the funds within four days and recovering the majority through legal processes by September 1. The case demonstrates the importance of rapid reporting and specialized financial crimes investigation in cryptocurrency-related scams.
wcnc.com
· 2025-12-07
In 2023, older Americans lost over $3.4 billion to scams, with the problem escalating in 2024 when individuals over 60 represented the largest group of cybercrime victims in the U.S., losing more than $1 billion since the start of the year through increasingly sophisticated schemes including tech support fraud, romance scams, investment fraud, and government impersonation. Experts recommend seniors protect themselves by never sharing personal information unsolicited, using strong passwords with two-factor authentication, consulting family before financial decisions, and recognizing red flags such as urgent requests for money via gift cards or wire transfers, pressure to act quickly, and threats from callers.
butlereagle.com
· 2025-12-07
AARP of Pennsylvania is warning seniors about cryptocurrency scams that cost Americans $1.4 billion in 2024, typically involving fraudsters who contact victims via text or social media and direct them to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs with threats or promises of quick returns. Once deposited, the funds cannot be recovered. AARP encourages victims to report scams to local law enforcement or contact them directly at 1-877-908-3360.
inkfreenews.com
· 2025-12-07
Indiana ranks second nationally for senior fraud complaints at 76.9 per 100,000 residents, with seniors age 60+ losing $4.8 billion to fraud nationwide in 2023. The state experienced a sharp 240% increase in elderly fraud complaints over three years, driven partly by its growing senior population expected to exceed 20% by 2030. The most common scams involved tech support impersonation, while cryptocurrency fraud proved most costly, with victims averaging losses exceeding $108,000 per case.
tribunact.com
· 2025-12-07
Jackie Crenshaw, a Connecticut resident, lost nearly $1 million to a cryptocurrency romance scam in which a fraudster built emotional trust to manipulate her into making false investments. She testified before the Connecticut legislature in support of House Bill 6990, which passed and was signed into law, establishing a legal framework for law enforcement to seize virtual currency used in criminal offenses—legislation designed to help recover stolen funds from future victims. Crenshaw's advocacy highlights how romance scams, which exploit emotional connections for financial gain, have become increasingly prevalent, with the FTC estimating true annual fraud losses at $137 billion despite only $9 billion being reported.
states.aarp.org
· 2025-12-07
In 2024, consumers lost over $1.4 billion to cryptocurrency scams, according to the FTC, prompting AARP Pennsylvania to alert residents to fraud schemes involving fake investment opportunities and romance scams that direct victims to deposit money into crypto ATMs. Scammers contact victims via text, email, or social media claiming guaranteed profits or threatening legal action, then direct them to send cryptocurrency through ATMs or other untraceable methods. AARP urges consumers to verify investment sources, resist pressure to act quickly, and never send money or cryptocurrency to unknown contacts.
kcaw.org
· 2025-12-07
A Sitka elder lost $40,000 after receiving a fraudulent call from someone claiming to be a Wells Fargo fraud investigator who convinced her to mail cash to him. Police Chief Chad Goeden emphasized that legitimate financial institutions never request payment via cash, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, and advised residents to hang up suspicious calls, independently verify the caller's identity, and discuss these scams with elderly family members.
finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who falsely claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case reflects a troubling trend: seniors age 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with the most common scams involving fake federal agents, investment fraud, tech support schemes, and romance scams. To protect yourself or elderly relatives, be skeptical of unsolicited contact from supposed government officials, never transfer money or cryptocurrency based on identity theft claims, and verify any official communication by contacting the agency directly using a phone number from their official website rather than one provided by the caller.
aol.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case highlights a growing problem: seniors lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, a 43% increase from the previous year, with impersonation scams being among the most common. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited contact from government agencies, remember that legitimate federal agencies will never ask you to transfer money or buy gift cards, and verify any claims by contacting official agencies directly through their published phone numbers.
uk.finance.yahoo.com
· 2025-12-07
A 67-year-old man lost his entire $400,000 life savings to scammers impersonating federal agents who claimed his identity had been stolen and promised to protect his money if he transferred it to them. This case reflects a troubling trend: Americans age 60 and older lost $4.8 billion to online scams in 2024, with impersonation scams being among the most common types targeting seniors. To protect yourself or older relatives, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming to be from government agencies, remember that the FBI and IRS will never ask you to transfer money or buy gift cards, and verify any suspicious claims by contacting official agencies directly using numbers from their legitimate websites.
dailyinterlake.com
· 2025-12-07
Internet crimes cost Americans $16.6 billion in 2024, a 33% increase from the previous year, with scammers particularly targeting seniors over 60 who may be more trusting or isolated. Montana residents have been hit hard by various schemes including cryptocurrency scams, Ponzi schemes targeting elderly investors, and romance scams, with one state resident losing $4 million over six years to an online romance fraudster. To protect yourself, report suspected fraud to authorities, be skeptical of unsolicited contacts claiming computer or financial emergencies, verify investment opportunities independently, and avoid depositing money into cryptocurrency ATMs based on scammer instructions.
israelhayom.com
· 2025-12-06
I don't have access to the full article content you're referring to. The text you've provided appears to be cut off and only shows the title and what seems to be an incomplete or different article beginning.
To provide an accurate 2-3 sentence summary focusing on what happened, who was affected, and actionable advice, I would need the complete article text about the crypto scam affecting Israelis. Could you please share the full article content?
news5cleveland.com
· 2025-12-06
Westlake Police stopped a 71-year-old woman from depositing nearly $5,500 into a cryptocurrency ATM after store clerks and officers recognized she was likely being scammed. Police Captain Jerry Vogel emphasized that crypto ATM scams are highly convincing and can victimize people of any education or income level, not just the elderly. To protect yourself and loved ones, especially during the holidays, educate relatives about these scams and be skeptical of requests to deposit cash into crypto ATMs—if someone pressures you to use one, it's likely a scam.
abc7news.com
· 2025-12-06
A San Jose widow in her 70s lost nearly $1 million to a "pig butchering" scam, a romance fraud scheme where scammers pose as potential romantic partners to gain victims' trust before manipulating them into sending money for fake cryptocurrency investments. The victim, Margaret Loke, was connected with a man claiming to be a businessman from Texas through Facebook, and after building what seemed like a genuine relationship through messaging, he convinced her to wire her entire life savings to overseas accounts. To protect yourself, be extremely cautious of online romantic connections offering investment opportunities, verify identities through video calls before any financial discussions, and never send money to anyone you haven't met in person—especially for cryptocurrency or investment schemes.
mebaneenterprise.com
· 2025-12-05
# Romance and Extortion Scams in North Carolina
A tragic case in North Carolina has exposed the deadly risks of online romance scams, where a Jonesborough man was manipulated and extorted by scammers posing as romantic interests before taking his own life in October 2023. North Carolina has seen a surge in various scams affecting over 500 victims and $17 million in losses, including romance fraud, impersonation schemes, and sextortion targeting vulnerable individuals—ranging from elderly residents to teenagers. To protect yourself, authorities advise verifying any unsolicited contact by independently calling known numbers, never sharing personal or financial information with unverified callers, and being cautious of online profiles pressuring you for money, cryptocurrency investments, or wire transfers.
itweb.co.za
· 2025-12-04
# Romance Scams Summary
Romance scammers create fake online profiles to build emotional relationships with victims, ultimately tricking them into sending money or personal information by exploiting people's desire for connection. Red flags include someone moving too fast in a relationship, requesting money, or refusing video calls—scammers often hide on dating apps and social media platforms where they can easily maintain false identities. To protect yourself, be cautious of online connections who you've never met in person, verify identities through video calls, and never send money to someone you haven't met; according to the FTC, consumers lost over $1.14 billion to romance scams in 2023 alone.
news10.com
· 2025-12-03
New York State Senator Zellnor Myrie introduced the "RIPOFF Act," a bill that would allow judges to strip large corporations (making over $100 million annually) of stock shares when convicted of financial crimes like fraud, bribery, and money laundering, with proceeds going to crime victims. The legislation aims to close legal loopholes that have allowed white-collar criminals to avoid serious punishment and to modernize fraud laws that haven't been updated in decades as criminal tactics have become increasingly sophisticated. Myrie emphasized the need for stronger state-level enforcement since federal agencies may scale back financial crime investigations, urging residents to stay vigilant about protecting their hard-earned money from corporate scams.
wdio.com
· 2025-12-02
# Scam Alert Summary
AARP and the Better Business Bureau held a "Scam Jam" event in Duluth to warn seniors and caregivers about increasingly sophisticated scams, particularly as the holiday season approaches when fraud increases. New threats include toll road text scams, deepfake videos and voices created with AI, and cryptocurrency schemes, in addition to traditional phishing emails and spam calls. To protect yourself, delete suspicious texts without clicking links, verify unexpected contacts by calling the person directly, examine images for AI signs like inconsistent backgrounds, and report suspected scams.
news.ssbcrack.com
· 2025-12-01
# Bitcoin ATM Scam Summary
An Aransas Pass veteran lost thousands of dollars after scammers convinced him his computer had been hacked and directed him to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM under false pretenses. The scam typically begins with a fake pop-up warning, followed by a phone call from someone impersonating tech support who creates urgency by threatening the victim's financial accounts. To protect yourself, be skeptical of unsolicited pop-ups and phone calls, never wire money or use Bitcoin ATMs based on such warnings, and listen to warnings from store employees—legitimate companies will never ask you to deposit cash into cryptocurrency machines.
investmentnews.com
· 2025-12-01
Major financial industry groups, including the CFP Board, are backing the Financial Exploitation Prevention Act, which would allow mutual fund companies to temporarily delay withdrawals if they suspect elder financial abuse. The legislation addresses a growing problem: one in five Americans over 65 has experienced financial exploitation, with seniors losing $4.88 billion to fraud in 2024 alone—a 43% increase from the previous year. If passed, the bill would give financial institutions a tool to pause suspicious transactions and protect vulnerable seniors' savings from predators.
bernama.com
· 2025-12-01
International police agencies are warning of a dangerous surge in transnational scam operations across Southeast Asia that are linked to human trafficking, forced labor, and serious crimes including torture and sexual exploitation. Victims are often lured with fake job promises and then forced into compounds where they operate fraud schemes like romance scams, investment fraud, and cryptocurrency scams targeting people worldwide. Law enforcement is increasing coordination and information sharing to dismantle these criminal networks, with Myanmar recently destroying hundreds of illegal scam buildings, and regional authorities are emphasizing joint efforts to combat the cross-border crime problem.
gbtribune.com
· 2025-12-01
# Holiday Shopping Scams Summary
AI-generated phishing emails are making holiday scams increasingly difficult to detect, as fraudsters now create convincing fake messages and websites that closely mimic legitimate retailers like Amazon and Walmart. To protect yourself, experts recommend never clicking links in unsolicited emails—instead, go directly to the retailer's website or app to verify any alerts, research sellers before purchasing, and pay with credit cards when possible so you can dispute fraudulent charges. If a seller insists on payment via gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, it's likely a scam, so trust your instincts and report suspicious activity to the FTC.
newsnationnow.com
· 2025-11-30
"Pig butchering" scams—sophisticated fraud schemes run by international criminal networks primarily based in Malaysia and the Philippines—are targeting elderly people, entrepreneurs, and cryptocurrency investors by using social engineering to trick victims into sending money, cryptocurrency, or gift card codes. Experts have launched Operation Shamrock, a nonprofit dedicated to educating bankers and at-risk individuals about these billion-dollar scams that often involve trafficked workers forced to participate. To protect yourself, be wary of unsolicited contact urging you to invest or send money, verify requests through independent channels, and never send cryptocurrency or gift cards to unknown parties, especially if you're being pressured to act quickly.
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Eyewitness News ABC7NY
· 2025-10-09
Scammers are using crypto ATMs in a modern twist on classic extortion schemes, with an estimated incident occurring every minute in the United States. A New Jersey woman was targeted by fraudsters posing as a sheriff's lieutenant claiming she missed jury duty and had arrest warrants, keeping her on the phone for two hours under duress before convincing her to withdraw $7,500 from her bank and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM. The scheme exploits victims' anxiety and unfamiliarity with crypto technology to quickly move funds beyond recovery.
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Good Morning America
· 2025-10-09
An 85-year-old woman named Fran Bates was scammed over two days by criminals who convinced her that her bank account had been hacked and persuaded her to deposit tens of thousands of dollars of her life savings into a Bitcoin ATM for "safety." This scam is part of a larger trend in which sophisticated criminal networks are increasingly exploiting the over 45,000 Bitcoin ATMs across the country to separate Americans from their money.
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ABC News
· 2025-10-09
An 85-year-old woman, Fran Bates, lost tens of thousands of dollars of her life savings to a cryptocurrency scam over two days when a scammer convinced her that her bank account had been hacked and instructed her to deposit money into a Bitcoin ATM for safety. The scam was caught on camera at the ATM, where the victim deposited at least $23,000 before intervention occurred, highlighting how sophisticated criminal networks are increasingly exploiting Bitcoin ATMs—of which over 45,000 operate across the country—to defraud Americans.