Americans lost nearly $389 million to crypto ATM scams during 2025, according to newly released state-level data from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, highlighting the rapid growth of one of the fastest-expanding forms of crypto-enabled financial fraud.
The figures, published as a supplement to the FBI’s 2025 IC3 Annual Report, show that the bureau received 13,460 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks last year. Compared with 2024, complaints increased by 23%, while reported losses surged by an even steeper 58%, reaching $388.98 million.
The FBI says cryptocurrency kiosks, commonly referred to as crypto ATMs, have become a preferred payment method for fraudsters because they allow victims to quickly convert cash into digital assets that are immediately transferred to wallets controlled by criminals.
Older Americans Continue To Bear The Biggest Losses
The data shows that older adults remain the primary targets.
More than half of all complaints involved victims aged 50 or older, who collectively reported losses exceeding $302 million, accounting for almost four-fifths of all money reported stolen through scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks.
Investigators say criminals frequently contact victims through telephone calls, emails, text messages or social media before persuading them to withdraw cash from their bank accounts.
Victims are then instructed to visit a nearby cryptocurrency kiosk, scan a QR code supplied by the scammer and deposit the cash into a cryptocurrency wallet controlled by the fraudsters.
Once the blockchain transaction is completed, recovering the funds becomes significantly more difficult than reversing traditional bank transfers or card payments.
Crypto ATMs Have Become A Preferred Fraud Tool
According to the FBI, the kiosks themselves are not illegal or inherently fraudulent. Instead, organized criminal groups increasingly exploit them because transactions are fast, irreversible and widely available through thousands of retail locations across the United States.
The bureau identified several common warning signs associated with cryptocurrency kiosk scams.
Victims often arrive after receiving unsolicited phone calls or online messages, carry QR codes they cannot explain, withdraw unusually large amounts of cash for the first time, or remain on mobile phone calls while making deposits into cryptocurrency kiosks.
In many cases, scammers impersonate government agencies, law enforcement officers, utility companies, financial institutions or technical support personnel to convince victims that immediate payment is required.
The FBI emphasized that no legitimate government agency or law enforcement official will ever demand payment through a cryptocurrency kiosk.
Fraud Is Widespread Across The United States
The newly released state-level breakdown demonstrates that crypto ATM fraud is no longer concentrated in a handful of jurisdictions.
Every state reported victims during 2025, with the highest overall losses recorded in Texas, Florida, California, Illinois and New Jersey. Together, those five states accounted for well over $150 million in reported losses.
However, the nationwide figures suggest the problem extends far beyond individual hotspots. From Alaska to Puerto Rico, victims reported losing money after being directed to cryptocurrency kiosks by fraudsters using increasingly sophisticated social engineering techniques.
The FBI cautioned that the reported losses reflect scams in which cryptocurrency kiosks formed part of the fraud, meaning some complaints also involved additional payment methods. Even so, the bureau says the data clearly illustrates the growing role crypto kiosks now play in financial crime.
Regulators Are Increasingly Focusing On Crypto Kiosks
The surge in complaints comes as regulators and lawmakers across the United States intensify scrutiny of cryptocurrency kiosk operators.
Several states have introduced legislation aimed at strengthening consumer protections, limiting transaction amounts, improving fraud warnings and requiring additional safeguards for first-time users. Law enforcement agencies have also increased public awareness campaigns warning consumers about scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks.
Financial institutions are similarly being encouraged to identify customers making unusually large cash withdrawals under suspicious circumstances, particularly older customers who appear to be acting under the direction of someone communicating by telephone.
Many kiosk operators have also introduced transaction monitoring, warning screens and fraud detection systems designed to interrupt suspicious transactions before they are completed.
Education Remains The Strongest Defense
The FBI continues to urge consumers never to send cryptocurrency to someone they have only communicated with online, never to follow instructions from unknown callers directing them to cryptocurrency kiosks, and never to trust demands for payment claiming to come from government agencies, law enforcement or utility providers.
The bureau also recommends preserving transaction receipts, wallet addresses and transaction IDs if funds have already been sent, as this information can assist investigators when complaints are submitted through the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
With reported losses approaching $389 million in a single year and complaint volumes continuing to rise sharply, the latest FBI figures suggest cryptocurrency kiosks have become one of the fastest-growing payment channels exploited by scammers. While crypto ATMs remain legitimate financial services for many users, law enforcement agencies increasingly view them as a critical frontline in the fight against investment fraud, impersonation scams and organized financial crime.