A new report from blockchain security firm CertiK warns that scams involving crypto ATMs are increasing rapidly across the United States. In 2025 alone, criminals reportedly stole about 333.5 million dollars, revealing the growing risks associated with cash to crypto kiosks.
One of the main reasons these scams are expanding is the way crypto ATMs operate. These machines allow quick transactions and often require very little identity verification. As a result, criminals can convert cash into digital assets in less than five minutes, sometimes before victims even realize they have been targeted.
Crypto ATMs Becoming a Major Tool for Fraud
Crypto ATMs are commonly placed in convenience stores, gas stations, and shopping malls, which makes them easy for the public to access. Their widespread availability also makes it easier for scammers to convince victims to carry out fraudulent transactions, even when warning messages appear on the screen.
According to CertiK, the United States hosts about 78 percent of the world’s estimated 45,000 crypto ATMs, making it the largest market for these machines. This widespread presence has contributed to the rise in fraud cases. As a result, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received more than 12,000 complaints between January and November 2025, representing a 33 percent increase compared with 2024.
Many of these scams rely on social engineering techniques. Criminals manipulate victims into depositing money under false claims or urgent instructions. The technical structure of crypto ATMs also complicates the situation because the machines function as interfaces connected to backend crypto application servers.
In many cases, the funds transferred through these machines come from operator controlled hot wallets rather than directly from the customer. This setup creates what investigators describe as an attribution gap, meaning blockchain records often show transactions originating from operators instead of victims. Because of this, tracing stolen funds becomes far more difficult.
Older Adults Are the Most Targeted
Older adults are especially vulnerable to these scams, accounting for roughly 86 percent of losses linked to crypto ATMs. In one investigation, the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia discovered that 93 percent of deposits made on some machines operated by Athena Bitcoin were fraudulent. The median age of victims in those cases was 71, with limited familiarity with digital finance making them easier targets.
Criminal groups have turned these schemes into organized operations. Many run coordinated networks responsible for generating leads, making scam calls, and laundering stolen funds. Some syndicates in Asia reportedly laundered about 16.1 billion dollars in 2025, often coordinating activities through the messaging platform Telegram to move funds quickly.
Common schemes include scammers posing as government officials, fake technical support representatives, romantic partners, or family members claiming to be in an emergency. Increasingly, criminals are also using artificial intelligence tools such as deepfakes to make their scams more convincing and more efficient.#crypto#cryptonews https://t.me/coinsignalpublic https://coinsignals.net
