RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford is warning of cryptocurrency kiosk scams.
“One of the most important ways to protect yourself from scams is to stay informed — scammers are consistently changing their tactics to fool you in new ways,” said Attorney General Ford. “Scammers will use cryptocurrency kiosks to trick you into transferring money in an almost untraceable manner, making your money very difficult to recover. If a person asks you to use a cryptocurrency kiosk to transfer money, stop and consider if the interaction feels above board. When in doubt, follow your gut.”
Ford says the kiosks are an increasingly popular way for criminals to carry out frauds and scams.
Often resembling traditional ATMs, the kiosks are located in common businesses such as gas stations, supermarkets, bars and convenience stores.
The kiosks convert cash into digital currency, which can be sent to unknown third parties. The transactions are irreversible and nearly untraceable, making it difficult to recover the money lost as a result of the scam.
The scams often begin with an unsolicited communication, typically in the form of a phone call, text or email, intended to create a sense of fear and urgency in the victim.
The scammers will often impersonate someone the victim would trust, such as a relative or the representative of a legitimate organization. The scammer will then claim the situation can only be resolved by depositing funds into a cryptocurrency kiosk.
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