Treasure Valley Residents Lose $1M to Crypto ATM Scams

Treasure Valley residents have lost over $1 million to cryptocurrency ATM scams so far this year, with a significant portion of victims being over 60 years old.

The scammers typically target victims by calling them, claiming there's a warrant for their arrest, and instructing them to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM to resolve the issue.

However, law enforcement will never demand money to clear a warrant, and officers will never send victims to a cryptocurrency ATM. As a result, officials are cautioning the public to be aware of these scams and to hang up if someone makes such demands.

Meridian residents have been hit particularly hard, losing $1.3 million between January and July 2026. The city of Star has even banned cryptocurrency ATMs, with the mayor stating that it's worth taking action to protect residents from these devastating scams.