Scammers defrauded Americans of more than $333 million through Bitcoin ATM-related schemes between January and November 2025, according to newly released data from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), highlighting a sharp rise in crypto-enabled fraud.
The FBI said fraudsters used cryptocurrency kiosks to steal approximately $333.5 million during the first eleven months of 2025, surpassing losses recorded in previous years. The figure marks a significant increase from roughly $250 million in losses reported in 2024, which itself was more than double the amount recorded in 2023.
According to the bureau, fraudulent activity involving Bitcoin ATMs shows a “clear and constant rise” and is “not slowing down,” reflecting growing misuse of crypto infrastructure as adoption expands nationwide. A spokesperson told ABC News that scammers increasingly rely on cryptocurrency kiosks due to the speed and irreversibility of transactions.
There are currently more than 45,000 Bitcoin ATMs operating across the United States. These machines allow users to insert cash and send cryptocurrency directly to digital wallets anywhere in the world within minutes. Once a transaction is completed, funds are often nearly impossible to recover, making the kiosks an attractive tool for criminals.
Experts say scammers frequently impersonate government officials, tech support agents, or financial institutions, pressuring victims to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs under the guise of urgent payments. “Requesting crypto is now the No. 1 preferred method of criminals,” Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support at AARP, told ABC News in October. “It is a huge problem.”
Regulators and law enforcement agencies have begun taking action. In September, the Washington, D.C., attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against Athena Bitcoin, one of the largest Bitcoin ATM operators in the country. The lawsuit accused the company of “pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in undisclosed fees on the backs of scam victims.”
The FBI attributed the surge in fraud to the rapid expansion of Bitcoin ATMs and the irreversible nature of cryptocurrency transfers. Authorities continue to warn consumers to be cautious, stressing that legitimate businesses and government agencies do not demand payments via cryptocurrency kiosks.