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Told to put cash in a Bitcoin ATM? It’s a scam

Short answer: Stop. The FTC says real businesses and government agencies will never tell you to use a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards or move money to protect it, and anyone who asks is a scammer. Hang up, don’t withdraw cash, and call someone you trust. If you already paid, contact the ATM operator right away and report it.

By Agent Lane Editorial · Page dated 3 November 2026

How big is the problem?

The FBI says it received 13,460 complaints about crypto ATMs and kiosks in 2025, with $389 million in losses, up 58 percent on 2024. The FTC found that people 60 and over were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss at one, and the median reported loss in early 2024 was $10,000.

How does the scam work?

  1. A call, text or computer pop-up says there’s suspicious activity on your account, or that your details are linked to a crime. The FTC says the caller may pose as your bank, a tech company or a government agency, even the FTC.
  2. They tell you your money is at risk and send you to your bank to take out cash, often staying on the phone with you.
  3. They send you to a particular Bitcoin ATM and say depositing the cash will keep it safe. The FTC says scammers have even called the machines “safety lockers.”
  4. They text you a QR code to scan at the machine. The cash goes straight into the scammer’s wallet, and it’s gone.

How do I know it’s a scam?

If anyone tells you to withdraw cash and feed it into a crypto ATM, that’s enough. The FTC says only scammers tell you to withdraw cash in response to an unexpected call or message, and that real businesses and government agencies never ask you to pay with a Bitcoin ATM. Other signs: they rush you, or tell you to keep it secret. Check any message with the 10-question crypto scam checklist.

What should I do right now?

  • Hang up or close the message. Don’t call a number in a pop-up.
  • Don’t go to the bank or the ATM for them.
  • If you’re worried about an account, look up the company’s or agency’s number yourself and call it.
  • Talk to someone you trust before you do anything else, as the FTC advises.

What if I already put money in?

Act fast. The FTC says to contact the company that operates the crypto ATM right away, tell them it was a fraudulent transaction, and ask them to reverse it. Crypto payments usually can’t be undone, so don’t wait. Keep your receipt and the messages. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.

Expect a follow-up: people who lost money are often targeted again by fake “recovery” services. See crypto recovery scams.

Sources

Checked 3 November 2026 on each organization’s own site.

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