A 63-year-old Allen County woman recovered $15,300 on October 8 after investigators traced and froze funds stolen through a cryptocurrency ATM scam. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) secured the full recovery with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Allen County Prosecutor's Office.
The fraud began in 2024 when the woman received a computer pop-up claiming her device had been hacked. The pop-up directed her to a fake Microsoft hotline, where a person instructed her to withdraw money, convert it to cryptocurrency, and send it through a crypto ATM. After recognizing the deception, she contacted the FBI, which referred her case to BCI's Electronic Financial Investigations Unit.
Scope of Crypto ATM Fraud
Since its creation in 2024, BCI's specialized unit has assisted with 309 fraud cases involving $5.6 million in crypto ATM losses. The average victim loss stands at $18,767. These machines, commonly found in convenience stores and gas stations, convert deposited cash into cryptocurrency sent to designated wallets controlled by scammers.
Nationally, the FBI recorded more than 13,400 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks in 2025, with reported losses exceeding $388 million.
Fraud Methods and Vulnerable Populations
Beyond computer-support impersonation, scammers use other pretexts including fabricated jury duty threats, fake bail requests, and fraudulent warrant notices to pressure victims into using crypto ATMs for payment. Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson noted that older people are frequent targets, with cash demands typically ranging from $500 to $20,000.
Wilson cautioned that "crypto ATMs are a favorite tool for scammers looking to steal victims' hard-earned money."
State Protections Emerging
Ohio's attorney general's office has urged the state to consider consumer protections against crypto ATM fraud. Other states have moved ahead with requirements. Alabama implemented crypto ATM scam refund protections effective October 1, allowing qualifying new customers to recover the full transaction value plus fees, while existing customers receive half the value including all fees, subject to reporting requirements.
Authorities encouraged immediate reporting of suspected fraud to local law enforcement.
