US Crypto ATM Scam Losses Reach $333 Million, Up 33% Year-over-Year, AI Deepfake as New Scam Tool

Gate News reports that on March 12, according to the latest CertiK report, the United States is projected to lose $333 million to crypto ATM scams in 2025. The FBI received over 12,000 complaints, a 33% increase year-over-year. CertiK points out that crypto ATMs can convert cash into cryptocurrency within five minutes, with minimal identity verification requirements, making them the easiest channel for scammers to withdraw funds. Among victims, 86% are seniors over 60 years old, mainly due to having liquid savings, lack of crypto knowledge, and social isolation. Common scams include romance scams, government impersonation, tech support fraud, grandparent scams, and fake debt collection services. The involvement of AI technology has made the situation more severe, with AI-driven social engineering scams expected to profit 4.5 times more than traditional methods in 2025. Real-time deepfake technology has been systematically integrated into scam operations. Transnational criminal organizations operate with a corporate division of labor, significantly increasing the difficulty of law enforcement tracking.

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