Friday, November 13, 2026 Official warnings, in plain English

Cyber Safety Today

Is this real? · Shopping and payments

A caller told you to pay with cash at a cryptocurrency ATM. Is it real?

The short answer

The FBI says no real law enforcement or government official will call to demand payment through a cryptocurrency kiosk. Do not follow the instructions. If you think you owe a company or agency money, contact it yourself on a number you look up.

Official warning dated May 15, 2026Published November 13, 2026Checked against sources November 13, 2026Written by software from the sources listed

A caller says they are from the government, the police, a legal office or a utility company, and tells you to pay by putting cash into a cryptocurrency kiosk. These are ATM-like machines that exchange cash for cryptocurrency. The FBI says no real law enforcement or government official will call to demand payment through one.1

In a notice dated May 15, 2026, the FBI said its Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received more than 13,400 complaints in 2025 involving cryptocurrency kiosks, with losses over $388 million. More than half of those complaints came from people over 50.1

The messageAn example of the pattern, not a real message

This is the power company. Your service will be cut off today unless you pay. We can only accept cryptocurrency. Withdraw the cash from your bank, take it to the nearest crypto machine, and scan the QR code I am sending you.

How to tell

  • The contact came out of the blue. Someone emailed, messaged or called you, offering a service or asking for payment in cryptocurrency.1
  • You get step-by-step instructions. Scammers often explain exactly how to withdraw cash from your bank, find a kiosk, and send the money.1
  • You were sent a QR code. You are told to scan a code someone else gave you to send the payment.1
  • They say they only take cryptocurrency. Be careful when someone who says they are the government, law enforcement, a legal office or a utility company will only accept cryptocurrency.1
  • A familiar voice asks for crypto. A caller from a number you do not know says they are someone you know and asks for cryptocurrency.1
  • You are on the phone while you pay. Watch for being on a call with someone, feeling confused, while you take out cash or use the machine.1
  • You are asked for large bills. Watch for being told to make a large cash withdrawal, especially for the first time, in big bills.1

What to do

  1. Do not follow instructions from someone you have never met to scan a QR code and send money through a cryptocurrency kiosk.1
  2. Check whether you really owe anything. If a caller says they are from a company and asks for personal information or cryptocurrency, do not respond. Contact the company directly, on a number you look up yourself.1
  3. Do not send money to someone you have only spoken to online, even if you feel you know them.1
  4. If the kiosk operator calls to say your payment looks like fraud and tells you to stop, stop or cancel the transaction.1

If you already clicked or paid

  1. Keep every receipt and any record of the transaction from the kiosk.1
  2. Contact the cryptocurrency ATM operator right away. Tell them it was a fraudulent transaction and ask them to reverse it and refund your money.2
  3. File a police report with your local police department.1

Where to report it

  • The FBI. File a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov. Include the transaction ID, the wallet address the money went to, where the kiosk is, and any phone numbers, email addresses, websites or names the scammer used, with a description of what happened.1
  • Your local police. File a report with your local police department.1