Quick Answer: An alert store clerk in Liberty, Missouri stopped an elderly customer from losing $30,000 to a cryptocurrency kiosk scam. The victim had been told by a fake “Microsoft support” caller to deposit $30,000 in cryptocurrency to “remove a virus.” FBI data shows Americans lost $333.5 million to Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025 — and adults over 60 account for 85% of those losses.
An elderly customer walked into a Liberty, Missouri store, headed straight for the cryptocurrency machine while talking on the phone. A store clerk noticed something wasn’t right — and intervened before the customer could deposit $30,000.
According to KSHB News, police credit the clerk with preventing a significant financial loss. The victim had received a phone call from someone claiming to represent Microsoft support, who promised to “remove a virus” from the victim’s computer — for $30,000 in cryptocurrency.
This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a nationwide epidemic that cost Americans $333.5 million in 2025 alone.
How the Scam Works
Crypto kiosk scams follow a predictable pattern:
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- The call: The victim receives an unsolicited call from someone impersonating a government agency, tech company (Microsoft, Apple), or law enforcement.
- The urgency: The caller creates panic — “your computer has a virus,” “your Social Security number has been compromised,” “your bank account is being used for money laundering.”
- The instruction: The caller directs the victim to a nearby cryptocurrency kiosk (often inside a convenience store or gas station) and tells them to deposit cash.
- The transfer: The victim feeds cash into the kiosk and scans a QR code provided by the scammer, which sends the cryptocurrency directly to the scammer’s digital wallet.
- The loss: Once the cryptocurrency is sent, it’s gone. These transactions are irreversible. There is no bank to call, no charge to dispute, no way to get the money back.
Why Crypto Kiosks? Scammers direct victims to cryptocurrency ATMs specifically because the transactions are irreversible and nearly untraceable. Unlike a wire transfer or credit card payment, there’s no institution that can reverse the transaction. Once the cash goes in and the crypto goes out, the money is gone.
The Scale of the Problem
This isn’t a fringe problem. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3):
- $333.5 million lost to Bitcoin ATM scams in the U.S. in 2025 — up 33% from $250 million in 2024.
- More than 12,000 complaints filed with IC3 in 2025.
- Adults 60 and older account for over 85% of reported fraud losses involving crypto kiosks.
- The FBI says there is a “clear and constant rise” in these scams that is “not slowing down.”
The FTC reports that people aged 60 and over are more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss using a crypto ATM. In one case tracked by the FBI, a single victim lost $98,000 across 19 separate transactions at crypto kiosks.
What the Liberty Clerk Did Right
The store clerk in Liberty noticed the warning signs:
- An elderly customer heading directly to the crypto machine
- The customer was on a phone call the entire time (scammers keep victims on the line to prevent them from asking questions or calling a trusted person)
- The transaction amount was unusually large
The clerk intervened before the transaction could be completed and called police. Officers spoke with the victim and explained the scam. Police subsequently installed warning signs on all cryptocurrency machines throughout the city.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
- No legitimate company or government agency will ever ask for payment in cryptocurrency. Not Microsoft, not the IRS, not the Social Security Administration, not your bank.
- If someone tells you to go to a cryptocurrency kiosk and deposit cash, it’s a scam. Every time. No exceptions.
- Hang up and call back. If you receive a call claiming to be from Microsoft, your bank, or any company, hang up and call their official number directly.
- Talk to someone you trust first. Scammers keep victims on the phone specifically to prevent them from consulting a family member, friend, or banker.
- Report it. File a complaint with the FBI’s IC3 and the FTC.
Have “The Talk” With Older Family Members: The single most effective prevention is a conversation. Tell parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles: “If anyone ever tells you to go somewhere and deposit cash — call me first. I don’t care what time it is.” One phone call can save someone’s life savings.
For Context: Crypto kiosk scams are now the fastest-growing fraud vector in the United States. The machines themselves are legal — the problem is that scammers have identified them as the perfect tool for irreversible theft. There are over 30,000 crypto ATMs across the country, many in gas stations and convenience stores. Some states are beginning to require warning labels, but enforcement is inconsistent.
Key Takeaways
- An alert store clerk in Liberty, Missouri prevented an elderly customer from losing $30,000 to a crypto kiosk scam.
- The FBI reports $333.5 million lost to Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025 — up 33% from 2024.
- Adults over 60 account for 85% of crypto kiosk fraud losses.
- No legitimate company or government agency will ever ask for payment in cryptocurrency.
- Once cryptocurrency is sent through a kiosk, the money is gone — there is no way to reverse it.
- Talk to your older family members now. One conversation could save tens of thousands of dollars.
FAQ
What is a cryptocurrency kiosk scam?
A scam where someone impersonating a company or government agency directs a victim to a cryptocurrency ATM (kiosk) to deposit cash. The victim feeds cash into the machine and scans a QR code provided by the scammer, which sends cryptocurrency directly to the scammer’s digital wallet. The transaction is irreversible.
Can I get my money back from a crypto ATM scam?
Almost certainly not. Cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible by design. Unlike a credit card charge or wire transfer, there is no bank or institution that can reverse the transaction. This is precisely why scammers prefer this payment method. Report the loss to the FBI’s IC3 and the FTC, but recovery is extremely rare.
How much money do Americans lose to crypto ATM scams?
The FBI reported $333.5 million in losses from Bitcoin ATM scams in 2025, up 33% from $250 million in 2024. More than 12,000 complaints were filed with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FBI calls it a “clear and constant rise” that is “not slowing down.”
Why are elderly people targeted by crypto ATM scams?
Adults over 60 account for 85% of crypto kiosk fraud losses. They’re targeted because they may be less familiar with cryptocurrency technology, more trusting of callers claiming to represent official organizations, and more likely to have accessible savings. Scammers use urgency and fear to prevent victims from consulting trusted family members.
How can I protect my parents or grandparents from crypto scams?
Have a direct conversation: “If anyone ever asks you to go somewhere and deposit cash or buy cryptocurrency, call me first.” Remind them that no legitimate company or government agency asks for cryptocurrency payments. Consider setting up trusted contact provisions on their financial accounts so the bank can flag unusual activity.
Source: KSHB News, ABC News/FBI, FTC Consumer Alert, AARP/FBI IC3 Report
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