TheFBI has issued a warning about fraudulent schemes that make use of bitcoin ATMs and QR codes to collect payment information.
“The FBI has seen an increase in scammers directing victims to use physical cryptocurrency ATMs and digital QR codes to complete payment transactions,” the FBI said in a public service announcement.
According to the FBI, these fraudulent schemes include internet impersonation schemes, romance scams, and lotteries, among other things. Regardless of the sort of scam involved, however, the FBI stated that the tactics of employing bitcoin ATMs and QR codes are well-known to the general public.
According to the FBI, the fraudster frequently asks the victim for money and then refers them to a cryptocurrency ATM that has a QR code linked to the scammer’s wallet.
“Cryptocurrency’s decentralized nature creates challenges that make it difficult to recover,” the FBI said, adding that once a victim makes a payment, the scammer “instantly owns the cryptocurrency, and often immediately transfers the funds into an account overseas.”
This, of course, varies from a regular wire transfer, in which payments are paid after a day or two. “It can also make law enforcement’s recovery of cash difficult, resulting in financial losses for many victims,” the FBI noted.
In addition to the warning, the FBI provided tips on how people may protect themselves against crypto ATM-related frauds. When it comes to financial stability, the suggestions recall some of the oldest counsel. They include not making funds to persons you’ve only communicated with over the internet and not answering calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.
Furthermore, the FBI recommends against using bitcoin ATMs that claim to be anonymous.
“These cryptocurrency ATMs may be non-compliant with U.S. federal regulations and may facilitate money laundering,” the FBI said, adding that instructions to use these anonymous crypto ATMs are “a significant indicator of fraud.”
