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The FBI says American citizens relish misplaced over $388 million closing year to scams using cryptocurrency kiosks, generally identified as crypto ATMs or Bitcoin ATMs.

Cryptocurrency kiosks are physical, standalone electronic terminals (that would possibly well also or would possibly well perchance also no longer require identity verification to stop money laundering) that resemble monetary institution ATMs and enable users to purchase or promote crypto property using money or debit cards.

They’re generally chanced on spherical gasoline stations, comfort stores, and other simply accessible locations. Cybercriminals ask means victims to deposit their money into crypto kiosks that then transfer the funds to attacker-managed crypto wallets.

Earlier this month, Minnesota lawmakers banned cryptocurrency kiosks statewide, after identical moves from Indiana in March and Tennessee in April.

In a public carrier announcement published on Friday, the bureau warned of a practically 60% surge in reported losses to crypto ATM scams in comparison with the outdated year.

“In 2025, the IC3 received more than 13,400 complaints reporting the use of cryptocurrency kiosks, with losses over $388 million — a 23% increase in complaints and a 58% increase in losses from 2024. More than half of the complaints involved individuals over 50, with losses over $302 million,” the FBI said.

“In typical IC3 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks, criminals give detailed instructions to individuals, including how to withdraw cash from their bank, how to locate a kiosk, and how to deposit and send funds using the kiosk.”

Based on complaint recordsdata and adjusted losses shared by the FBI, American citizens from Texas, Florida, and California filed over 3,300 crypto ATM scam complaints and reported over $112 million in estimated losses.

The FBI also shared some measures that anybody can take to guard themselves from falling victim to such scams, in conjunction with no longer sending money to other folks you simplest know on-line, by no plot scanning QR codes or following price directions from unknown participants, continuously verifying phone calls without extend, and no longer sharing any private recordsdata over the phone.

It also urged being wary when anybody claiming to be from the authorities or laws enforcement demands cryptocurrency funds, stopping transactions if a kiosk operator warns you of fraud, and continuously keeping receipts for cryptocurrency transactions.

The FBI’s 2025 Web Crime File says the laws enforcement agency bought over 1 million complaints thru its Web Crime Criticism Center (IC3) closing year, linked to practically $21 billion in losses from cyber-enabled crimes such as investment scams, tech make stronger fraud, and alter e mail compromise.