A caller instructs you to deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM
A scammer pretending to be a government agent, tech support, or bank investigator says the only way to "protect" or "verify" your money is to withdraw cash and deposit it into a Bitcoin ATM at a gas station, convenience store, or supermarket. The QR code they send routes the cash directly to them.
Also known as: cash-to-Bitcoin scam, cryptocurrency ATM fraud, directed crypto deposit
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
- ! If you installed any "support", "server", "refund", or remote-access app at their request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.): disconnect the internet now, then run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
What to do right now
- 1 Hang up. Stop. Call a trusted family member or your bank directly using the number on your card
- 2 No legitimate government, bank, utility, or investigator uses Bitcoin ATMs to receive payment. None
- 3 Bitcoin ATM transactions are typically irreversible — once cash is deposited and the QR is scanned, the money is gone
- 4 If you have started but haven't completed the deposit, walk away from the machine immediately
- 5 If you have already deposited cash, file at https://www.ic3.gov within 24 hours and call your local police. Some operators may be able to flag specific wallet addresses
- 6 If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
- 7 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Was remote-access software installed?
If a scammer asked you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, or any remote-access app, your device may still be compromised.
Run SeraphSecure to detect and remove it →Red flags
- ⚠ Caller stays on the phone with you the entire drive to and from the ATM
- ⚠ You are sent a QR code by text and told to scan it at the Bitcoin ATM
- ⚠ Caller emphasizes urgency ('the bank is closing in 20 minutes')
- ⚠ Caller instructs you to keep the action secret from family and bank tellers
- ⚠ No real government agency or bank will EVER tell you to use a Bitcoin ATM
The Bitcoin ATM variant of the impersonation scam has exploded in the US over the past three years because crypto transactions are fast and irreversible. Victims have lost their entire savings in a single afternoon, often while believing they were complying with a real federal investigation.
If you are on a call right now telling you to drive to a Bitcoin ATM: do not go. Hang up. The action of going to a Bitcoin ATM at someone else’s instruction is essentially never legitimate. Every minute of delay protects you, and the scammer can only continue if you cooperate.
Sources
- FBI — Cryptocurrency ATM scams
- FTC — Cryptocurrency scams using crypto ATMs
- CNBC — Bitcoin ATM's days in America may be numbered: Indiana bans them, 30 states pass laws (2026)
- Boston Globe — Bitcoin ATMs enabling scams; AARP calls for nationwide ban (Apr 2026)
- IC3 PSA260515-2 — Cryptocurrency kiosk complaint data: $388M in 2025 losses, 86% from victims 60+ (May 2026)
- Help Net Security — FBI: $388M lost in crypto ATM scams in 2025; Bitcoin Depot files bankruptcy (May 2026)