New NC initiative trying to combat growing cryptocurrency ATM scams

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a new statewide initiative to combat a concerning cryptocurrency scam centering around increasingly prevalent ATMs.

“The main issue here is that these kiosks are increasingly being incorporated into scams,” Jackson said during his announcement in Wilmington Tuesday.

The attorney general says scammers tell victims to visit crypto ATMs, having them deposit cash into a crypto account controlled by the scammer.

“At which point it is extremely difficult to trace and recover those funds,” he said.

The scams typically target senior citizens, with concerns stretching across the country. Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows people lost more than $110 million in these types of scams across the country in 2023.

“The average take from someone in one of these cryptocurrency scams is over $100,000. A ton of people are being completely cleaned out,” Jackson said.

The statewide initiative centers around raising awareness about the scams. Businesses with these ATMs are encouraged to be vigilant about warning signs, including seeing older adults using the machines while on the phone.

“We want to encourage these businesses to speak up when they’re seeing something suspicious,” said North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall.

If you’ve fallen victim to one of these scams, you can call 211 or local law enforcement. You can also file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.