Tasmania, Australia has become the latest region to join the nationwide effort to combat cryptocurrency ATM scams.
Tasmanian police cyber investigations revealed that the top 15 users of cryptocurrency ATMs in the state, discovered on Friday (July 11), were all victims of scams, with total losses amounting to 2.5 million AUD (1.6 million USD). More than one-third, approximately 592,000 USD, was deposited into cryptocurrency ATMs.
This statement was released weeks after the Australian Federal Police and the Australian financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC announced they were leading a national law enforcement operation to combat the criminal use of cryptocurrency ATMs.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Turner of the Tasmanian police stated that during the operation, they found that in many cases, victims were directed to cryptocurrency ATMs by scammers after expressing concerns about transactions at regular financial institutions.
"Victims are manipulated, intimidated, and coerced into investing in fake investments and romance scams," Turner said.
He added that these scams often involve large amounts and can have "serious and lifelong impacts" on victims, such as forcing them to rely on pensions, sell assets, or delay retirement. "If someone asks you to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM and you have never met this person, or if the proposal comes with high-pressure deadlines or an urgent tone, it is likely a scam."
The latest crackdown follows AUSTRAC's introduction of new operational rules and transaction limits to combat cryptocurrency ATM scams. The agency will also prioritize cryptocurrency as a focus area for 2025 in December.
The number of ATMs in Tasmania has significantly increased. Turner noted that there was only one ATM in 2021, but the number has now risen to over 20. Data from Coin ATM Radar shows there are 24 ATMs in the state.
Australia is the third-largest center for Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrency ATMs, following the United States and Canada, with over 1,890 ATMs, up from just 67 in August 2022.
Leading cryptocurrency ATM providers in Australia include Localcoin, with 807 ATMs; Coinflip, with 691 ATMs; and Bitcoin Depot, with 212 ATMs.
Meanwhile, other countries are also working to curb the criminal use of cryptocurrency ATMs.
On Thursday (July 10), New Zealand banned cryptocurrency ATMs and restricted international cash transfers, with officials stating this is part of efforts to combat money laundering and organized financial crime.
In Spokane, Washington, USA, the city council announced a complete ban on cryptocurrency ATMs on June 16, citing concerns that scammers were exploiting these devices. All existing kiosks will be removed, and new devices will be prohibited from entering the area.
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Original article: “Tasmanian Police Find Top 15 Crypto ATM Users Are Scam Victims”
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