Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is warning residents about scams that pressure victims to send cash through cryptocurrency and Bitcoin ATMs.
The Office of Attorney General says it received 290 complaints involving crypto ATMs last year. Reported schemes include criminals posing as government or law-enforcement officials, romance scams and fraudulent investment offers. Scammers may tell a victim to withdraw cash, travel to a kiosk and deposit the money into a cryptocurrency wallet controlled by the scammer.
The state is placing warning signs on cryptocurrency ATMs across Pennsylvania to urge consumers to stop before completing a suspicious transaction. The Attorney General’s office says no legitimate law-enforcement agency, court or government office will demand payment through a crypto kiosk. A request to remain on the phone, hide the purpose of a withdrawal or mislead a bank employee is another warning sign.
Consumers should pause and independently verify any payment demand using a phone number or website they locate themselves. They should not rely on contact information supplied by the caller, text message or social-media account. Cryptocurrency transactions can be difficult to reverse after money is sent.
Anyone who believes they encountered a scam may contact the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555. People who have already sent money should also contact their financial institution and local law enforcement as soon as possible.
