Should you ever deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM because someone told you to?
No. If anyone — a "government agent," "bank investigator," or "tech-support rep" — directs you to a Bitcoin ATM or crypto kiosk to fix a problem, it is a scam. Legitimate agencies never do this.
What it is
A scammer on the phone convinces you your money is at risk or you owe a debt, then walks you to a crypto kiosk and has you feed in cash that converts to cryptocurrency they control.
How to spot it
A caller sends you to a Bitcoin ATM or crypto kiosk to "protect" or "verify" funds.
You're kept on the phone the whole time and told not to hang up.
You're pressured to move a large amount of cash quickly.
The reason involves "fraud on your account," a warrant, or a frozen account.
What to do
Walk away from the kiosk and hang up. No real agency or financial institution collects money through a crypto machine — call your credit union and local police.
When in doubt, slow down. A real credit union, business, or agency is fine with you hanging up and calling back on a number you look up yourself.