I am one of the countless VICTIMS caught in a fast-growing nightmare that has drained Americans of more than $333 million in 2025 alone. The SCAMMERS didn’t break into my home — they broke into my trust, using bitcoin ATM machines as their weapon of choice.
According to the FBI, these SCAMMERS have been running calculated ruses through cryptocurrency kiosks, and the problem is only getting worse. Federal officials admit the numbers show a clear and constant rise, and they openly say it’s not slowing down.
Just one year earlier, in 2024, Americans like me lost around $250 million. That was already more than double the year before. Now, from January through November 2025, the losses have exploded to $333.5 million — and those are only the reported cases. Many VICTIMS never come forward out of shame or fear.
There are over 45,000 bitcoin ATMs across the country, and that’s exactly why the SCAMMERS love them. They tell us to insert cash and send it to a digital wallet — anywhere in the world. The transaction takes minutes. Once it’s done, the money is gone forever. No refunds. No reversals. No mercy.
Experts say this is why crypto has become the favorite payment method of criminals. As AARP’s fraud victim support director Amy Nofziger bluntly stated, requesting cryptocurrency is now the No. 1 tool used by criminals. And she’s right — it’s devastating.
Authorities are finally reacting. In September, the Washington, D.C. Attorney General sued Athena Bitcoin, a major bitcoin ATM operator, accusing the company of profiting off scam victims by collecting massive undisclosed fees. According to the lawsuit, a staggering 93% of transactions on Athena’s machines in D.C. were tied to outright fraud. The median age of the VICTIMS? 71 years old — people who should have been protected, not preyed upon.
Athena Bitcoin denies responsibility, claiming it has safeguards and warnings in place. They argue that they cannot control user decisions, comparing themselves to a bank. But from where I stand — as a VICTIM — the damage is real, the money is gone, and the trauma remains.
Groups like AARP are now demanding tougher rules: daily deposit limits, stricter oversight, and stronger consumer protections. At least 17 states have already passed laws regulating bitcoin ATMs, and some cities have gone further by banning them outright.
But for me — and thousands of other VICTIMS — these changes came too late. The SCAMMERS already won.