Someone Told Me to Put Cash in a Bitcoin ATM. Is It a Scam?

What this helps with: Knowing what to do when a caller or message tells you to take out cash and put it in a Bitcoin ATM, and what to do if you already did.

Yes. It’s a scam. The FTC says real businesses and government agencies will never tell you to use a Bitcoin ATM to protect your money or fix a problem. Anyone who does is a scammer. Hang up and keep your cash.

What is a Bitcoin ATM?

A Bitcoin ATM (also called a crypto ATM or crypto kiosk) looks a lot like a bank ATM. You often see them in gas stations, grocery stores, and corner stores. But it works the other way around. You put cash in, and the machine turns it into crypto, like Bitcoin. Then it sends the crypto to a digital “wallet.”

Whoever owns that wallet gets the money. In a scam, that’s the scammer. The FBI says the money moves right away and is very hard to get back.

How the scam usually goes

The FTC and FBI say these scams follow the same steps:

1. A call, text, or pop-up says something is wrong. Someone may be using your bank or Amazon account. A virus is on your computer. Your name is tied to a crime.
2. The caller says they’re from somewhere you trust. Your bank, Apple, Microsoft, the police, the sheriff, or the government. Caller ID may even show a real name. Scammers can fake caller ID.
3. They say you must act now. They may say your money is at risk. They may say you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay a “fine” or “bail.”
4. They tell you to take out cash from your bank, savings, or retirement account.
5. They send you to a certain Bitcoin ATM. They may even call it a “safety locker.”
6. They text you a QR code (a square barcode) to scan at the machine. That code is their wallet. Once you scan it and put in cash, the money goes straight to them.
7. They stay on the phone and tell you what to do, step by step.

Signs it’s a scam

• Anyone tells you to pay or “protect” money with a Bitcoin ATM. That alone means it’s a scam. The FTC says no government agency will ever ask you to do this.
• Someone sends you a QR code and tells you to scan it at a machine.
• They want you to keep it a secret, even from your bank or family.
• They want you to stay on the phone the whole time.
• They rush you or scare you.

What to do right now

1. Stop and hang up. Or close the message. You don’t have to explain.
2. Don’t take out cash. If you already have it, don’t put it in any machine. You can put it back in your bank.
3. Don’t scan any QR code someone sent you.
4. Check the story yourself. Call your bank using the number on the back of your card or on your statement. For a company or agency, look up the number yourself. Don’t use a number the caller gave you.
5. Talk to someone you trust. A family member, a friend, or a bank teller can help you think it through.
6. At the machine and the company calls to warn you? The FBI says if the kiosk company calls and says it looks like fraud, stop or cancel.

If you already put cash in a Bitcoin ATM

Act fast, and keep your receipt. It has details that can help. Take a photo of it, too.

1. Contact the company that runs the machine right away. Use the phone number on the machine or on your receipt. Tell them it was a scam. Ask them to stop or reverse it and give your money back. The FTC says crypto payments usually can’t be undone, but ask anyway.
2. Ask about your state’s rules. Many states now have laws for these machines. In some, the company must give money back to scam victims who report in time. In Wisconsin you have 30 days, in Alabama 60 days, and in Iowa generally 90 days. So don’t wait.
3. Call your local police and file a report. Some state refund rules need a police report.
4. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov. The FBI asks for the place of the machine, the transaction ID and wallet address from your receipt, and any phone numbers or emails the scammer used.
5. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
6. Tell your bank, too, if you took out the cash or shared any account details.

Need help filing a report? If you’re 60 or older, call the National Elder Fraud Hotline (U.S. Department of Justice) at 833-372-8311 (1-833-FRAUD-11). For free, friendly help, you can also call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET). You don’t need to be an AARP member.

Watch out for “we’ll get your money back” scams

After a scam, a second scammer may call. They may say they’re from the FBI, the FTC, a law firm, or a “recovery” company. They say they can get your money back for a fee.

• That’s another scam. The FBI says its complaint site, IC3, will never call, email, or message you. It will never ask you to pay to get money back.
• Never pay a fee to get back money you lost. The FTC says real agencies don’t charge you for this.

This is not your fault. These scammers trick careful, smart people every day. Telling someone helps stop them.

How big is this?

• The FTC says people reported losing over $110 million at Bitcoin ATMs in 2023. That was about ten times more than in 2020.
• People 60 and older were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss at one, the FTC found in early 2024.
• The FBI got more than 13,400 complaints about crypto ATMs in 2025, with losses over $388 million. More than half came from people over 50.

More help: Is My Bank Really Calling?, Someone Wants Me to Pay with a Gift Card. Is It a Scam?, How to Spot a Scam, and How Do I Pay Safely When I Shop Online?

Official sources

• FTC: Scammers use Bitcoin ATMs to steal your money
• FTC: Bitcoin ATMs: A payment portal for scammers (Data Spotlight)
• FTC: Scammers are impersonating FTC Chief Privacy Officer John Krebs (Dec 9, 2025)
• FTC: What To Do if You Were Scammed
• FTC: Have you lost money to a scam? Watch for scammers who say they can help (Aug 2026)
• FBI: IC3 Cryptocurrency Kiosk Complaint Data By State (May 15, 2026)
• FBI: Fraudulent Schemes Using Cryptocurrency ATMs and QR Codes
• FBI: Scammers Impersonating the IC3
• AARP: States Take Aim at Crypto ATM Fraud (Sep 14, 2026)
• AARP Wisconsin: New Crypto Kiosk Law
• Alabama Securities Commission: Cryptocurrency Kiosk Fraud Prevention Act (Oct 1, 2026)
• Iowa Attorney General: Crypto ATM FAQ
• AARP: Fraud Watch Network Helpline
• FTC: Report fraud

Last checked: Oct 28, 2026

This is general help, not personalized tech support, and not legal or financial advice. It covers the U.S. State rules for these machines differ, so check with your state attorney general or police.