Crypto ATM scam: how to get your money back

The call or message seemed urgent. Someone claiming to be from your bank, a government agency, a tech support company or the police said your money was at risk, or that you owed a payment. They told you to withdraw cash and feed it into a crypto ATM (often called a Bitcoin ATM), scanning a QR code they sent you. No real bank or agency ever asks for this, and if it happened to you, you're far from the only one.

Do these things right away

1. Keep your ATM receipts. They show where the bitcoin was sent, which is what makes tracing possible.
2. Call the ATM company. Its phone number is on the machine and the receipt. Report the scam and ask for a reference number.
3. Don't scan any more QR codes and don't take any more calls from the scammer.
4. Tell your bank about the cash you withdrew and why.
5. Report it to your local police and at ic3.gov, the FBI's fraud reporting site.

Can you get the money back?

Often there's a real path. The QR code you scanned is a crypto address, and everything sent to it can be followed. Scammers usually move the bitcoin on quickly, often to a crypto exchange, where it can be frozen and returned to you. The sooner it's traced, the better.

How we help

We work to get your money back, and your receipt is the starting point. We follow the bitcoin from that address to the exchanges and institutions holding it, and push them to freeze it so it can be returned to you. Once you engage us, tracing takes 48 hours, and recovery efforts start within a week.

If someone contacts you later offering to get the money back for a fee, be careful: fake recovery services target people right after a scam.

• Can stolen crypto be frozen? How freezes work
• How to choose a legitimate recovery firm
• Fake recovery sites we've found

Van Orton Recovery is an American fraud recovery intelligence firm. Every case starts with a free, confidential assessment of where your money went and what can be done, usually within hours. Contact us at hello@vanortonrecovery.com or use the link below to get started.