Scammers stole around $333 million in 2025 by exploiting bitcoin ATM machines, according to FBI data highlighting a sharp rise in crypto kiosk fraud. Criminals often impersonated government officials, banks, or tech support agents, pressuring victims to deposit cash at bitcoin ATMs and transfer funds via QR codes. The irreversible nature of these transactions made recovery difficult. Older adults were disproportionately targeted, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulations, clearer warnings, and stronger consumer protections around crypto ATMs.