Police in Tasmania have uncovered a troubling pattern of fraud, revealing that the top 15 users of local cryptocurrency ATMs were all victims of scams.
Scammers Exploit Crypto ATMs
According to a statement from the Tasmanian Police, investigators identified that those frequent users had been coerced into making repeated deposits into crypto ATMs as part of elaborate fraud schemes. Victims were tricked into believing they were paying legitimate debts, taxes, or investments, when in reality, their funds were being funneled to scammers.
Authorities noted that the anonymity and irreversibility of cryptocurrency transactions make ATMs a preferred tool for criminals to extract funds from unsuspecting victims.
Ongoing Investigation
Detectives are working with financial institutions and blockchain analysts to trace the flow of funds, though they warned that recovering money sent through crypto ATMs is extremely difficult.
“This is a stark reminder to the public: no government agency, utility company, or legitimate business will ever demand payment via cryptocurrency,” said a police spokesperson.
Public Advisory
The police have urged anyone who is asked to make payments through a crypto ATM to stop and seek advice immediately, either by contacting law enforcement or a trusted advisor. They also encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity involving crypto ATMs to help combat these scams.
