BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador is cautioning Idaho families about a rise in cryptocurrency ATM scams that are costing residents, particularly seniors, tens of thousands of dollars.

According to Labrador’s office, scammers often pose as government officials, tech support agents, or bank representatives to trick victims into depositing cash into cryptocurrency ATMs at gas stations and convenience stores. Once transferred, the funds are nearly impossible to recover.

In one recent week, a Stinker Store employee in Boise prevented two separate seniors from losing more than $30,000 by unplugging a machine and alerting police to stop the fraudulent transactions.

Cryptocurrency losses in Idaho have surged from $19 million in 2023 to more than $35 million in 2024. The FBI reports seniors are disproportionately affected, with those over 60 suffering the highest financial losses of any age group.

“Criminals are calling Idaho seniors pretending to be from a legitimate business or government agency, then directing them to deposit thousands of dollars into cryptocurrency machines at gas stations to supposedly fix computer problems or pay fake fines,” Labrador said. “If anyone demands you put cash into a cryptocurrency ATM for any reason, it’s more than likely a scam and you should report it immediately”.

Warning signs include unsolicited calls from tech support, government agencies, or banks demanding immediate payment in cryptocurrency. Officials stress that legitimate organizations never require cryptocurrency for payments, fines, or services.

Idahoans who believe they’ve been targeted are encouraged to file a report at ReportScamsIdaho.gov.