At least five victims lost $128,000 at a crypto ATM in Haverhill, Massachusetts, according to police reports. The scams followed a similar pattern, with scammers coaching victims over the phone to deposit cash into the machine to protect their accounts.
The woman who deposited $20,000 and $5,900 was warned by the store's cashier and manager that the machine was used in scams. Despite this, she still has not recovered her money.
Massachusetts has not passed any laws regulating crypto ATMs, even as 32 other states have done so. However, late on Wednesday afternoon, hours after a story about crypto kiosks published, the state Senate passed an amendment to a broader economic development bill that would ban the machines statewide.