Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning Idahoans about rising cryptocurrency ATM scams targeting seniors through fake tech support and government calls.
IDAHO, USA — Attorney General Raúl Labrador is warning Idaho families about a dangerous surge in cryptocurrency ATM scams, which predominantly target seniors through fake tech support calls and government imposter schemes that have cost victims tens of thousands of dollars.
In just one week, an alert Stinker Store employee prevented two separate seniors from losing over $30,000 to cryptocurrency ATM fraud, Labrador said in a press release. The employee unplugged the machine and called Boise Police to help convince the victims they were being scammed.
“Criminals are calling Idaho seniors pretending to be from a legitimate business or government agency, then directing them to deposit thousands of dollars into cryptocurrency machines at gas stations to supposedly fix computer problems or pay fake fines,” said Labrador. “If anyone demands you put cash into a cryptocurrency ATM for any reason, it’s more than likely a scam and you should report it immediately. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.”
Cryptocurrency ATMs look similar to regular bank ATMs and are often located in gas stations and convenience stores. These ATMs allow people to legitimately purchase and transfer cryptocurrency. However, because they do this using untraceable routing numbers, recovering money once it is sent is nearly impossible and it is why scammers are using this method on unsuspecting Idahoans.
Reported cryptocurrency losses in Idaho jumped from $19 million in 2023 to over $35 million in 2024, with seniors representing the largest victim group. The FBI reports that victims over 60 suffer significantly higher losses than all other age groups combined.
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