2026-01-11 04:21:58

Recent data released by the FBI is quite eye-opening—within the first 11 months of 2025, losses caused by crypto ATM scams in the US have already reached $333 million, more than doubling the $250 million total for all of 2024. There have been over 12,000 complaints, with more than 10,000 victims. Frankly, this growth rate is a bit frightening.

But even more noteworthy is the composition of the victims. You might think that young retail investors are being targeted, but in reality, the main victims are the elderly, with a median age of 71. These individuals are generally unfamiliar with the mechanisms of crypto transfers and private keys. Scammers exploit this by using fake bills, fake investments, or scam-like dating schemes to guide them into operations. By the time they realize what’s happening, the money has already gone into black money wallets, making recovery very difficult.

Why is this phenomenon particularly rampant in the US? The fundamental reason is that the US controls about 80% of the global crypto ATM network, and this numerical advantage directly turns into a scammer’s playground. Coupled with insufficient regulation in some areas, it provides bad actors with operational space.

Faced with this wave, local governments are starting to act. Some states are already pushing new regulatory measures, such as mandatory KYC and limits on single transaction amounts, to provide an extra layer of protection for high-risk users. However, based on the data, the real issue isn’t just technical—more critically, it’s how to help users lacking fintech experience recognize risks. This may be more urgent than simply imposing transaction limits.

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fren.eth

· 01-11 06:11

Wow, this data is really shocking. How can 71-year-old grandparents be cut up like this? Who can handle it? --- 3.33 billion times the multiplier, huh? How many people need to wash money to absorb that? --- Basically, it's because regulation can't keep up. With ATMs everywhere, scammers dare to act. --- What’s the point of mandatory KYC? The problem is that elderly people simply don’t understand what a private key is. --- Wait, are 80% of ATMs in the US involved in crypto? I really hadn’t realized this concept. --- The average age of victims is 71... This is not just a crypto industry issue; it’s a social problem. --- All these protective measures are basically useless. The key is still education.

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RealYieldWizard

· 01-11 04:50

Wow, at 71 years old, still being scammed out of 333 million, how outrageous is that? Fraudsters specifically target the elderly, this trick is really clever. ATM scams have doubled? The US regulation is really weak. KYC can save lives, but the fundamental issue is education. These old guys really need to learn more about blockchain basics. 80% of crypto ATMs in the US have become scam hotspots, ironic. Once the black money stash goes in, it's gone, and recovery is extremely difficult. Compared to limits, I think they should first be taught what a private key is. Behind every elderly person, there are scammers waiting—social issue. If this data gets out, mainstream media will criticize crypto again.

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GateUser-44a00d6c

· 01-11 04:49

At 71, still被骗进加密ATM, how outrageous is that --- $333 million directly doubled, American scammers really know how to make money --- KYC limits are useless, scammers have long targeted elderly people who can't use smartphones --- ATM scams are even more outrageous than I thought, it seems I need to educate my parents at home --- 80% of crypto ATMs are in the US, no wonder it has become a scam paradise, regulation really needs to keep up --- The problem isn't technology, it's that the elderly simply don't know what a private key is, what should we do --- Over 10,000 victims are elderly people, this data is a bit heartbreaking

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MEVictim

· 01-11 04:44

71-year-old grandpa gets cut, this is the real bloody scene --- 3.33 billion doubled? In the US, 80% of ATM networks are just scammers' cash machines --- KYC limits are somewhat useful, but the key is to teach these old guys what a private key is, otherwise the defenses are useless --- Regulation can't keep up, scammers run away really fast, and the data showing double-digit growth every year is terrifying --- Really, compared to young newbies getting cut, I feel more sorry for the elderly who are completely clueless about crypto being scammed --- Why not just ban these ATMs? Instead of passive defense, it's better to strike directly --- 12,000 complaints? Is this financial fraud or systemic robbery? --- 80% of crypto ATMs in the US... this is probably infrastructure tailored for bad actors --- Honestly, restricting single transaction amounts is just a superficial fix; these scammers have countless tricks --- I remember, I once knew an old guy who fell into a fake investment scam, really hard to guard against

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FunGibleTom

· 01-11 04:42

Are the elderly the ones getting scammed the most? That's truly incredible... If my grandfather knew about this, he probably wouldn't dare to touch cryptocurrencies anymore. --- 3.33 billion doubled in value, the US government really needs to take this seriously this time, or the hole will only get deeper. --- Still being scammed into coins at 71... That's hard to bear; this isn't a technical issue, it's a human nature problem. --- Cryptocurrency ATMs are everywhere, yet they've become hotbeds for scams—kind of ironic. --- Instead of restricting the amount, it's better to teach the elderly how to recognize scammers first; it's really heartbreaking. --- 12,000 cases... How long will US law enforcement have to work overtime to recover these coins? --- Concepts like private keys and black money wallets are inherently complex; scammers targeting this is truly ruthless. --- 80% of crypto ATMs are in the US, which is both an advantage and a curse.

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GasFeeSobber

· 01-11 04:42

This data is truly incredible. The incident of a 71-year-old man being scammed is simply a crime against humanity. That said, ATM scams are indeed a social issue, not just a problem within the crypto community. The 3.33 billion doubling so quickly is mainly due to regulators being unable to keep up. It's heartbreaking to see elderly people being tricked into black money packages through fake investments. KYC and limit restrictions are just superficial solutions; the key is education. In the US, 80% of ATM control has directly become a tool for scams, which is extremely ironic. The victims are mainly elderly people, indicating that the problem is not with retail investors.

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MEVSandwichVictim

· 01-11 04:29

The scam targeting the elderly is really outrageous, even at 71 years old they still have to be cautious... 333 million doubled? Oh my, this growth rate is even more brutal than a coin price crash. Why do the elderly always suffer losses? Isn't this the biggest information gap? What's the use of KYC limits? Scammers' tricks are much faster than regulations. ATM dungeon, scam paradise, in the US, 80% has truly become a cash machine. Honestly, it still depends on financial education; otherwise, no matter how many rules there are, they are just paper tigers. This wave of scams, I think, cannot be prevented by technology alone; human greed is the real issue.

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