TLDR
- Crypto ATM fraud losses in the United States reached $333 million in 2025.
- The FBI received more than 12,000 complaints between January and November 2025.
- Complaints related to crypto ATM scams increased by 33% compared to the previous year.
- CertiK reported that scammers use AI deepfake tools to enhance social engineering tactics.
- Older adults accounted for about 86% of reported crypto ATM losses in 2025.
Crypto ATM fraud losses in the United States reached $333 million in 2025, according to CertiK. The FBI received over 12,000 complaints between January and November, marking a 33% annual increase. CertiK reported that organized scam networks used advanced AI deepfake tools to accelerate extraction schemes.
Crypto ATM fraud complaints climb as kiosks enable rapid cash-to-crypto transfers
CertiK stated that crypto ATM fraud ranks among the fastest-growing financial crime categories in the United States. The FBI logged more than 12,000 complaints in the first eleven months of 2025. That figure reflects a 33% rise from the previous year.
CertiK explained that scammers exploit the “speed and pseudonymity” of crypto ATMs to move funds quickly. The firm said kiosks convert cash to crypto in under five minutes with limited identity checks. It added that this process makes them the “lowest-friction extraction channel available to scammers.”
The United States hosts 78% of the world’s 45,000 cryptocurrency machines, according to CertiK. This concentration gives criminal networks a broad physical footprint for operations. As a result, scammers scale their efforts across multiple states.
CertiK also described an “attribution gap” in crypto ATM transactions. The blockchain records transfers from operators to destination wallets, not victim identities. Therefore, investigators require court orders to access operator records for tracing.
The firm said crypto ATM fraud relies entirely on social engineering tactics. Scammers instruct 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 that 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. It described this development as the most “near-term escalation” in scam tactics.
The report stated that AI tools scrape social media data for personalized targeting. Scammers then craft scripts that mirror trusted contacts’ language and appearance. CertiK said these tools allow hyper-targeted communication with victims.
Older adults accounted for about 86% of reported crypto ATM losses, according to the firm. CertiK attributed this trend to liquid savings, lower crypto literacy, and social isolation. However, 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. These approaches direct victims to deposit funds into crypto ATMs.
CertiK stated that scam profiles shifted from independent actors to structured transnational criminal organizations. The firm said these groups operate with corporate-style divisions of labor. It added that such organizations are “industrializing ATM-based extraction at unprecedented scale.”
In September 2025, Senator Cynthia Lummis said market structure legislation could address crypto ATM fraud. She stated that 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.
