Share this article
FBI Warns of Scams Using Crypto ATMs and QR Codes
The U.S. law enforcement agency says there has been an increase in scammers directing victims to use physical crypto ATMs and QR codes to complete transactions.
Updated May 11, 2023, 4:04 p.m. Published Nov 5, 2021, 8:49 p.m.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is warning there has been a rise in fraudulent schemes using cryptocurrency automated teller machines (ATM) and quick response (QR) codes to facilitate payments.
- The FBI said it has seen an increase in scammers directing victims to use physical crypto ATMs and QR codes to complete payment transactions.
- Scammers will request payment from the victim and then direct the victim to withdraw money from the victim’s financial accounts, such as investment or retirement accounts.
- The FBI warns they will also provide a QR code associated with the scammer’s cryptocurrency wallet for the victim to use during the transaction.
- The scammer will then direct the victim to a physical cryptocurrency ATM to insert their money, purchase cryptocurrency and use the provided QR code to auto-populate the recipient address. Often the scammer is in constant online communication with the victim and provides step-by-step instructions until the payment is completed, said the FBI.
- “It is important to remain vigilant and not make payments to someone you have only spoken to online, even if you believe you have a relationship with the individual,” advised the FBI.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Read more: Federal Officials Recover Bitcoin Ransom From Colonial Pipeline Attack
More For You
What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
More For You
French Banking Giant BPCE to Roll Out Crypto Trading for 2M Retail Clients
The service will allow customers to buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC through a separate digital asset account managed by Hexarq.
What to know:
- French banking group BPCE will start offering crypto trading services to 2 million retail customers through its Banque Populaire and Caisse d’Épargne apps, with plans to expand to 12 million customers by 2026.
- The service will allow customers to buy and sell BTC, ETH, SOL, and USDC through a separate digital asset account managed by Hexarq, with a €2.99 monthly fee and 1.5% transaction commission.
- The move follows similar initiatives by other European banks, such as BBVA, Santander, and Raiffeisen Bank, which have already started offering crypto trading services to their customers.
Top Stories
