Crypto Scams Cost Essex County Residents $11M In 2025 As Kiosk Ban Efforts Expand

SALEM, MA — Essex County residents lost an estimated $11 million in cryptocurrency scams in the first 10 months of 2025, as cities and towns across the North Shore take steps to ban the kiosks where money often becomes untraceable once deposited.

Essex County DA Paul Tucker issued an advisory with warning signs of a crypto scam as part of Fraud Awareness Week, while Peabody and Danvers are among the communities to consider joining Gloucester in banning the kiosks that are often used by fraudsters to lure their victims into giving money that typically cannot be retrieved.

• Danvers Eyes Bitcoin ATM Ban Amid Repeated Scam Attempts

Tucker says fraudsters are increasingly turning to the crypto kiosks — sometimes referred to as Bitcoin ATMs, though many machines offer transactions in cryptocurrency other than Bitcoin — which are typically located in high-traffic venues like convenience stores and which look similar to traditional ATM machines.

Crypto-ATMs may be attractive to scammers because they are powered by technology that makes it almost impossible for law enforcement to claw funds back, in contrast to a more standard banking transaction.

The DA's Office said Massachusetts residents have reported losses of more than $77 million in these kiosks, including at least $11 million in Essex County.

Scams involve prompting victims to use the crypto machines to pay an outstanding bill or fine — which may or may not actually exist — as well as to get a loved out out of danger in the so-called "grandparents' scam.

"Please beware if someone you do not know asks you to convert cash at a crypto-ATM kiosk," Tucker says. "No legitimate entity will demand crypto as the only way to resolve a concern or ask you to keep a transaction secret. Slow down and call your local police to check."

Efforts to combat these scams involve having bank tellers and convenience store workers intervene and contact law enforcement if it appears someone — specifically an elderly person — is withdrawing or depositing large amounts of money in a situation that appears suspicious, such as while speaking with someone else on the phone.

"If you see someone in a situation that you suspect might be a scam in process, please speak up," Tucker said. "All of us can play a role in keeping our family, friends and neighbors free from fraud."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)