TLDR

  • U.S. crypto ATM fraud losses hit $333 million in 2025.
  • The FBI received over 12,000 complaints between January and November 2025.
  • Crypto ATM scam-related complaints rose 33% compared to the prior year.
  • CertiK reported scammers are using AI deepfake tools to bolster social engineering tactics.
  • Older adults comprised approximately 86% of reported crypto ATM losses in 2025.

U.S. crypto ATM fraud losses reached $333 million in 2025, per CertiK. The FBI received more than 12,000 complaints from January to November, marking a 33% annual increase. CertiK noted that organized scam networks utilized advanced AI deepfake tools to accelerate extraction schemes.

Crypto ATM fraud complaints climb as kiosks enable rapid cash-to-crypto transfers

CertiK stated crypto ATM fraud is among the fastest-growing financial crime categories in the U.S. The FBI logged over 12,000 complaints in the first 11 months of 2025, reflecting a 33% rise from the previous year.

CertiK explained scammers exploit the “speed and pseudonymity” of crypto ATMs to move funds quickly. The firm noted kiosks convert cash to crypto in under five minutes with minimal identity checks, adding this makes them the “lowest-friction extraction channel available to scammers.”

According to CertiK, the U.S. hosts 78% of the world’s 45,000 cryptocurrency machines. This concentration provides criminal networks with a broad physical footprint for operations, enabling scammers to scale efforts across multiple states.

CertiK also highlighted an “attribution gap” in crypto ATM transactions. Blockchain records show transfers from operators to destination wallets—not victim identities—meaning investigators need court orders to access operator records for tracing.

The firm noted crypto ATM fraud relies entirely on social engineering tactics, with scammers instructing victims to visit kiosks and complete transactions voluntarily. In contrast, phishing schemes target private keys or malicious contract approvals.

AI deepfakes and organized networks intensify crypto ATM scam tactics

CertiK reported AI-enabled social engineering scams generated 4.5 times more profit than traditional methods in 2025. The firm said criminals integrated “real-time deepfake synthetic media” into fraud operations, describing this as the most “near-term escalation” in scam tactics.

The report noted AI tools scrape social media data for personalized targeting, with scammers crafting scripts that mimic trusted contacts’ language and appearance. CertiK said these tools enable hyper-targeted communication with victims.

Older adults accounted for about 86% of reported crypto ATM losses, per the firm. CertiK attributed this trend to liquid savings, lower crypto literacy, and social isolation, though it also observed rising cases among younger victims.

Younger victims often fall for romance or investment schemes known as “pig butchering.” CertiK listed government impersonation, tech support fraud, grandparent scams, and fake recovery offers as other primary tactics directing victims to deposit funds into crypto ATMs.

CertiK stated scam profiles shifted from independent actors to structured transnational criminal organizations. These groups operate with corporate-style divisions of labor, “industrializing ATM-based extraction at unprecedented scale,” according to the firm.

In September 2025, Senator Cynthia Lummis suggested market structure legislation could address crypto ATM fraud, stating lawmakers should punish bad actors without limiting innovation. In February 2025, Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to strengthen safeguards for kiosk users.