Pennsylvania Attorney General Puts 'STOP' Warning Signs at Cryptocurrency ATMs After About 290 Scam Complaints Last Year
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday warned on October 29 that scammers are using cryptocurrency as their collection method, luring consumers with threats of arrest, phony investment opportunities and online romance prospects. His office also launched a 'STOP' sign awareness campaign.
Sunday announced the campaign at a community event in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, alongside State Sen. Rosemary Brown, who attended in support. The warning signage will be placed at cryptocurrency and Bitcoin ATMs across the Commonwealth to interrupt scams before transactions occur. The attorney general's office strongly encourages businesses that host the machines to display the signs prominently, reminding consumers to stop before following instructions from unexpected callers, scanning QR codes or sending money under pressure.
The office's Bureau of Consumer Protection received about 290 scam complaints involving cryptocurrency last year, most commonly involving investment or romance schemes, some using threats and scare tactics. This year, the bureau has seen an uptick in government-imposter scams: callers pose as county sheriff's office representatives, threaten arrest and demand deposits into a Bitcoin ATM using a QR code supplied by the scammer.
The office cited two real cases. In one, a Pennsylvanian received a call that appeared to come from a local police department about an outstanding warrant and was ordered to buy $4,000 in cryptocurrency through a kiosk, which was sent to a scammer; the office was able to recover some of the money. In another, a consumer sent $81,000 through wire transfers for purported cryptocurrency investments after developing a romantic relationship on WhatsApp, realizing it was a scam only when withdrawals were blocked unless more was paid.
'Although the means of payment are different, the lures for these scams are the same,' Sunday said. 'Criminals rely on fear and pressure to get victims to act before asking questions. If you receive an unexpected ask or directive to make a cryptocurrency transfer or deposit, stop and cease that communication.'
The office stressed that no legitimate law enforcement agency or court will direct anyone to a cryptocurrency kiosk to pay a fine, resolve a warrant or avoid arrest, and that police, courts, banks and legitimate tech-support representatives will not instruct people to deposit cash into a crypto kiosk to resolve an emergency or protect their money. Because caller ID can be spoofed, consumers should hang up and verify through numbers from official websites, and should never share passwords, private keys or recovery phrases.
Consumers who believe they have been targeted should stop sending money, keep messages, receipts and wallet addresses, and report promptly to the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 or by email at [email protected].
Pennsylvania Attorney General consumer protection complaint page
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 一台比特币ATM（资料图）。经 Wikimedia Commons。 / A Bitcoin ATM (file photo). Via Wikimedia Commons.
