Fraud at bitcoin (BTC) ATMs reached new highs in 2025. According to the FBI, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, fraudsters stole $333 million from victims on such platforms.
In most cases, Scammers pose as a company or bankflagging alleged suspicious activity on the victim’s account. Then, they advise depositing money at a bitcoin ATM to protect your funds or fix the problem. However, that amount goes directly to the scammers’ account, the FBI said.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) indicated that In 2025 alone, more than 12,000 people reported having been victims of fraud at bitcoin ATMs. This shows an increase compared to the previous year, according to a statement sent to the press.
Although fraud can affect anyone, older adults are particularly vulnerable. At least during the first half of 2024, people aged 60 and older accounted for 71% of reported losses in incidents with bitcoin ATMs, totaling approximately $46 million, according to data from the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
The United States, the country with the most bitcoin ATMs operating
Currently, there are 39,174 bitcoin ATMs in the world, with the United States being the country with the largest number, representing 80% of the total. In the nation, there are 31,047 units, followed by Canada, Australia and Spain, according to data from Coin ATM Radar.
In relation to the scams detected, as reported by NoticiasVE, the Washington DC Prosecutor’s Office sued the Athena Bitcoin ATM company in September. The government claimed that 93% of transactions during an assessed period were “the product of outright fraud.” However, the company denied the accusation in a statement. In the text, he said that they have strong safeguards against fraud and that he does not control the decisions of users.