U.S. CFTC Warns Against Cryptocurrency ATM Scams, With Related Losses Exceeding $388 Million in 2025

According to an announcement by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), fraudsters are frequently impersonating government agencies, banks, investment firms, utility companies, or technical support personnel to lure victims into transferring funds via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, unknown apps, or courier deliveries, exploiting the irreversible nature of transactions and the difficulty of tracing address ownership to carry out scams. Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) shows that reported losses involving cryptocurrency ATMs in 2025 exceeded $388 million, up 58% from the previous year, with actual losses likely higher due to underreporting. The CFTC states that legitimate government agencies, financial institutions, and businesses will not require users to transfer assets via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, or courier services. If parties urge action on the grounds that "your account or identity faces an urgent risk," demand secrecy, request remote access to devices, or instruct transfers to designated wallet addresses or via QR codes, these should be treated as high-risk red flags. Regulators advise users to halt transactions, independently verify information through official channels, and promptly report suspected fraud to the CFTC or the FBI IC3.