HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Dave Sunday has issued a stark warning about a growing trend in financial scams involving Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs). According to Sunday, cybercriminals are exploiting BTMs to coerce victims into transferring money that is often impossible to recover.
Scammers typically employ urgent and alarming messages to pressure individuals into acting quickly. Messaging such as “protect your money” or “resolve criminal charges” is commonly used to manipulate victims into withdrawing large sums of cash. Armed with personal details, such as bank information, these criminals appear credible and exploit that trust to gain cooperation.
Once a withdrawal is made, scammers direct victims to deposit the cash into a Bitcoin ATM. They then have the victim scan a QR code, which grants the scammers access to the funds. This mechanism ensures that the money is immediately transferred and irretrievable.
The fraudulent activities frequently begin with unsolicited phone calls, text messages, emails, social media alerts, or even computer pop-ups. “Scammers will try to alarm, scare, and persuade you to take sudden action — before you are able to stop and realize you are being scammed,” Attorney General Sunday emphasized.
The Attorney General’s Office has provided actionable tips to help individuals avoid falling victim to such schemes. These include refraining from clicking suspicious links, contacting companies or agencies directly using verified information, and never making cash withdrawals or Bitcoin transfers based on unverified messages or calls. Consumers are also advised to slow down and consult trusted individuals before taking any financial action.
Additionally, Sunday stressed that legitimate businesses and government entities will never request payment through Bitcoin ATMs, gift cards, or money wiring. Banks, too, are urged to reinforce fraud protections and scrutinize suspicious transactions, as bank employees often play a critical role in identifying potential scams.
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