Bitcoin ATM Scams Cost Americans $333 Million in 2025, According to FBI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has unveiled alarming findings: in 2025, criminals swindled Americans out of a staggering sum exceeding $333 million through deceptive schemes involving bitcoin ATMs. This represents a substantial increase from prior years as the crypto ATM market continues to expand.

Recent statistics issued by the FBI highlight a 'persistent upward trajectory' in fraudulent activities involving cryptocurrency kiosks. A spokesperson from the bureau informed ABC News of this troubling trend that seems far from waning.

In the previous year, 2024, con artists were responsible for about $250 million in recorded losses—more than twice the amount witnessed in the preceding year. By November 2025, this year’s figures had hit $333.5 million.

Critics Cite Bitcoin ATMs as a Tool for Scammers

Across the United States, there are over 45,000 bitcoin ATMs. These machines allow users to deposit cash and transfer it to a digital wallet globally within minutes. Once a transfer is finalized, retrieving the funds becomes nearly impossible, rendering it a favored method for deceitful activities.

‘Criminals now predominantly demand cryptocurrency,’ stated Amy Nofziger, from AARP’s fraud victim support, in October. ‘This is a significant issue.’

Authorities have responded. In September, the attorney general's office in Washington, D.C., initiated legal proceedings against Athena Bitcoin, one of the biggest bitcoin ATM operators in the U.S., charging them with accruing 'hundreds of thousands of dollars in undisclosed fees from scam victims.'

Allegedly, a staggering 93% of transactions on Athena’s terminals in the district are fraudulent, with the average victim being 71 years old.

In a rebuttal to the claims, Athena argued that they implement 'robust anti-fraud measures, including clear instructions and consumer education,' asserting that responsibility lies with the users’ choices rather than the company itself.

The AARP has been advocating for stronger consumer protection regulations concerning bitcoin ATMs, proposing limits on daily deposit amounts. Recent years have seen at least 17 states enact laws regulating these machines, and several localities are considering complete bans.