TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) — The Pima County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) is launching a new initiative aimed at combating cryptocurrency scams that have surged in recent months.
The Scam Alert program will target locations where these scams are most prevalent, including Bitcoin ATMs, gift card kiosks, and bank branches.
The initiative comes in response to the dramatic increase in the number of Bitcoin ATMs in Pima County, particularly in the Tucson area, which now boasts around 300 machines. While these ATMs provide convenient access to cryptocurrency, they have also become a frequent tool for scammers who exploit unsuspecting individuals.
According to PCSD’s Financial Crimes & Fraud Unit, scammers often coerce victims into depositing cash into Bitcoin ATMs under false pretenses, such as pretending the…
