US CFTC: Warns of cryptocurrency ATM scams, with related losses exceeding $388 million in 2025

According to a notice from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), scammers are frequently impersonating government agencies, banks, investment firms, utility companies, or tech support personnel to lure victims into transferring funds via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, unfamiliar applications, or courier services. They exploit the irreversible nature of transactions and the difficulty in tracing address ownership to carry out their scams.

Data from the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) of the FBI shows that in 2025, reported losses from scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs exceeded $388 million, a 58% increase from the previous year, with actual losses potentially higher due to underreporting.

The CFTC states that legitimate government departments, financial institutions, and businesses will not ask users to transfer assets via cryptocurrency ATMs, gift cards, or courier services. If someone urges action by claiming "your account or identity is at urgent risk," or requests confidentiality, remote control of devices, or transfers to specified wallet addresses or QR codes, it should be considered a high-risk signal. Regulatory agencies recommend that users stop trading, independently verify information through official channels, and promptly report suspicious scams to the CFTC or FBI IC3.