Sign for a Bitcoin ATM in a store window next to Visa and ADT security decals. — Credit: Shutterstock

Those crypto ATMs found at your local gas station can help you turn dollars into Bitcoin, but they’re also the source of millions of dollars in fraud, especially in Florida.

According to a recently released annual report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) division, the state of Florida was second in the nation in 2025 for complaints regarding criminals ordering victims to send funds through crypto ATMs, with 1,213 reported incidents, equalling $32.7 million in losses.

Among the other top states, Texas ranked number one for most crypto kiosk dollars lost, with a total of $56,802,197 in adjusted losses, while California ranked third with $24,017,535 in adjusted losses.

“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,” says the FBI.

These scams typically take place through email or phone messages, where criminals may pose as law enforcement, social security employees and even family members. Criminals will often use QR codes instructing individuals to go to local kiosks and deposit funds.

Nationally, there have been over 13,000 complaints over the last year involving crypto ATMs, with losses reaching $388 million dollars. This is a 23% increase in complaints and 58% increase in losses from 2024. Most of these complaints come from individuals over the age of 50, with losses reaching over $302 million, says the report.

Crypt kiosk fraud isn’t the only way scammers have made money. Overall, cyber fraud in Florida last year amounted to $1,596,138,595 in losses, with 71,843 complaints. That’s an average of $22,217.03 per complaint.

The most susceptible to fall victim to these scams are elderly citizens, says the report. More than half the national complaints came from individuals over the age of 50, and many of these victims may be too ashamed to report these frauds.

“Reported fraud losses tied to crypto ATMs have surged—jumping by nearly $100 million from 2024 to 2025—and these numbers don’t even capture the full picture,” said Karen Murillo, AARP Florida Associate State Director of Advocacy in a recent report. “Many victims of fraud, especially older adult victims, never report the fraud because they feel ashamed or pressured to keep silent. The true scale of these scams is far larger than what we see in official reports.”

If you or someone you know, believes they may be a victim of cyber fraud, the FBI’s annual report includes ways for individuals to protect themselves from scammers:

Do not send payment to someone you have only spoken to online, even if you believe you have established a relationship with the individual.
Do not follow instructions from someone you have never met to scan a QR code and send payment via a cryptocurrency kiosk.
Do not respond to a caller who claims to be a representative of a company and who requests personal information or demands cryptocurrency. Contact the entity directly for verification.
Do not respond to a caller from an unknown telephone number who identifies as a person you know and requests cryptocurrency.
Practice caution when an entity states they can only accept cryptocurrency and identifies as the government, law enforcement, a legal office, or a utility company. No legitimate law enforcement or government official will call to demand payment via a cryptocurrency kiosk.
If you are using a cryptocurrency kiosk and the kiosk operator calls you to explain that your transactions are consistent with fraud and advises you to stop sending money, you should stop or cancel the transaction.
If you send funds via a cryptocurrency kiosk, be sure to keep any receipts or cryptocurrency transaction documentation.

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This article appears in May 14 – 20, 2026.