# Scams Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Scams", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Hawaii crypto ATM ban to take effect on Oct. 1

Hawaii will implement a total ban on cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks starting October 1, following the signing of House Bill 1642 into law by Governor Josh Green in July. The legislation prohibits the ownership, operation, or management of kiosks that exchange U.S. currency for digital assets. Lawmakers cited FBI data reporting over $11 billion in digital asset scam losses nationwide in 2025, with Hawaii residents filing 826 related complaints and incurring roughly $80 million in losses. Hawaii joins Minnesota, Tennessee, and Indiana in enacting such bans, while states like South Dakota and Wyoming have imposed strict regulations. According to CoinATMRadar, 57 crypto ATMs and kiosks were operational across Hawaii's main islands as of this week.

cointelegraph23h ago

Hawaii crypto ATM ban to take effect on Oct. 1

cointelegraph23h ago

In the EU, Cases of Scams with Fake MiCA Licenses Have Increased

Following the implementation of the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations on July 1, scammers in the European Union have increased fraudulent schemes involving fake MiCA licenses, according to a Financial Times report citing regulators. Authorities including France's AMF, the European ESMA, and the Dutch AFM report a rise in scams where fraudsters impersonate regulators or crypto service providers. They are tricking customers of platforms that have not yet secured licenses into transferring assets to supposedly "legitimate" but fake platforms and websites. Stephane Pontoizeau of the AMF noted that the initial phase of the new law gives criminals more opportunities than usual. ESMA warned of scams using its name and logo, complete with forged documents. Tom Keatinge of RUSI's Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies added that users facing uncertainty due to their EU crypto service shutting down are more vulnerable to these traps. The warnings follow earlier cautions from officials like Bruna Sego of Italy's AML unit about risks post-MiCA's transitional period, including potential overload on licensed crypto services from user migration.

cryptonews.ru08/06 11:13

In the EU, Cases of Scams with Fake MiCA Licenses Have Increased

cryptonews.ru08/06 11:13

Solana Foundation CISO Warns AI Is Making Crypto Scams More Convincing

Solana Foundation's Chief Information Security Officer, Michael Coates, warns that AI is making crypto scams significantly more convincing by enhancing social engineering, phishing, and voice impersonation tactics. The threat targets users and teams directly, not a flaw in blockchain technology itself. AI enables polished, personalized messages and convincing deepfakes, increasing the risk of irreversible financial losses from actions like approving malicious transactions. Coates emphasizes the need for "secure by default" systems across the crypto ecosystem, as traditional user-focused warnings are insufficient against sophisticated AI-driven deception. This includes safer wallet designs, clearer transaction approvals, and stronger internal team procedures like out-of-band verification and multi-signature controls. The warning applies broadly, as AI allows scammers to operate at scale with professional-looking attacks, necessitating a fundamental shift in security approaches beyond user vigilance.

bitcoinist08/03 08:19

Solana Foundation CISO Warns AI Is Making Crypto Scams More Convincing

bitcoinist08/03 08:19

7 Months After the Collapse of Huiwang, Southeast Asia's Escrow Platforms Undergo a Major Reshuffle

Following the collapse of Huione Pay—dubbed the "Alipay of Southeast Asia"—seven months ago, the region's underground financial guarantee platform sector is undergoing a significant reshuffle. This power vacuum has been swiftly filled by emerging platforms such as XinBi, Tiger/Navigator, JinBei (renamed JinBo), Dali/Tiancheng, and FullyLight. These platforms, operating largely via Telegram and offering services like escrow for illicit transactions, have absorbed the vast user base and markets left behind by Huione. While positioning themselves as "trust intermediaries," their primary clientele consists of networks involved in online scams, money laundering, illegal gambling, and even human trafficking. For instance, the Tiger/Navigator platform explicitly provides "escrow" services for kidnapping-for-ransom operations ("强押车交易"). Data underscores the immense scale: Huione alone processed over $103 billion in cryptocurrency payments and facilitated over $31 billion through its escrow market before its downfall, linking it to Cambodia's notorious Prince Group. Since its collapse, competitors have seen explosive growth. For example, the XinBi platform has accumulated over $1.6 billion in total USDT revenue, while platforms like NewPay, OkPay (under Dali), and FullyLight Wallet collectively processed over $4.8 billion in USDT in a single year. This ecosystem thrives in regions like Cambodia and Myanmar, where regulatory gaps allow these platforms to act as critical financial infrastructure for sprawling cybercrime industries, from scam compounds to online casinos. The article concludes that the moniker "Southeast Asian Alipay" is a misnomer, obscuring the platforms' fundamental role in enabling serious criminal enterprises rather than representing legitimate financial innovation.

Odaily星球日报07/22 04:19

7 Months After the Collapse of Huiwang, Southeast Asia's Escrow Platforms Undergo a Major Reshuffle

Odaily星球日报07/22 04:19

SEC Retail Fraud Group Puts Digital Asset Promotions Under A Sharper Consumer Lens

The SEC has formed a new Retail Fraud Working Group, signaling heightened scrutiny of digital asset promotions and scams targeting retail investors. This move underscores that the agency's crypto enforcement extends beyond major exchange cases to include clearer-cut fraud involving misleading claims, hidden risks, and microcap schemes. While the group's actions are unlikely to reshape ETF flows or DeFi architecture, they are expected to influence how crypto projects market themselves and how platforms handle consumer-facing offers. For the market, this development serves as a reminder to distinguish confirmed regulatory steps from speculation, focusing on follow-through actions rather than treating isolated headlines as definitive market signals.

bitcoinist07/08 21:35

SEC Retail Fraud Group Puts Digital Asset Promotions Under A Sharper Consumer Lens

bitcoinist07/08 21:35

AI's Deceptive Perfection: How Can Crypto Users Defend Against New Scams?

AI-generated content is making cryptocurrency scams more sophisticated and harder to detect. Previously, users could spot phishing attempts through poor grammar and spelling errors. Now, AI tools allow scammers to produce flawless, professional-looking emails, websites, and social media posts, often personalized using stolen user data. This shift poses unique risks in crypto, where transactions are irreversible and self-custody wallets can be compromised by a single malicious authorization. The article advises a shift from relying on visual cues to adopting rigorous verification as the primary defense. Key recommendations include: manually checking website URLs against official sources, scrutinizing wallet permissions before approving transactions, verifying smart contract addresses directly from project websites or block explorers, and being wary of unsolicited "urgent" messages from impersonated customer support. The core message is that in the AI era, a polished appearance is no guarantee of safety; every link, request, and interaction must be independently verified before any action is taken.

Foresight News06/08 08:04

AI's Deceptive Perfection: How Can Crypto Users Defend Against New Scams?

Foresight News06/08 08:04

Crypto ATM Giant Bitcoin Depot Warns Of Possible Collapse

Crypto ATM operator Bitcoin Depot has warned of potential collapse in an SEC filing, citing "substantial doubt" about its ability to continue. The company faces a severe crisis driven by a sharp $80 million revenue drop in Q1 2026, a $9.5 million net loss, and over $20 million in legal judgments. Intensifying regulatory pressure is a key factor, including a proposed nationwide ban on crypto ATMs in Canada and multiple lawsuits from U.S. states like Massachusetts and Iowa. These actions, alongside enhanced compliance controls, have drastically reduced customer transaction volume. The company's stock (BTM) plummeted over 40% in five days. In a leadership change, former MoneyGram CEO Alex Holmes replaced Scott Buchanan in March, bringing compliance expertise to navigate the challenging legal and regulatory landscape. The future of the business remains highly uncertain.

bitcoinist05/16 19:10

Crypto ATM Giant Bitcoin Depot Warns Of Possible Collapse

bitcoinist05/16 19:10

Texas targets crypto, gambling loopholes amid prediction market concerns

Prediction markets have gained significant attention, particularly during the U.S. election cycle, but the rise of gambling within these markets has eroded public trust. In response, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick is pushing for legislative changes to close gambling loopholes. He aims to prevent the exploitation of federal regulations, such as those of the CFTC, to bypass state gambling prohibitions. The goal is to ensure the integrity of elections and sports in Texas. Additionally, Patrick advocates for assessing the state’s approach to emerging financial technologies, including crypto, while prioritizing consumer protection and addressing issues like crypto ATM scams. The move coincides with a decline in public interest in prediction market gambling, as shown by Google Trends data.

ambcrypto04/01 17:28

Texas targets crypto, gambling loopholes amid prediction market concerns

ambcrypto04/01 17:28

Crypto ATMs face 60-day removal order in U.S. city – Report

Haverhill, Massachusetts, has proposed a ban on all cryptocurrency ATMs, citing risks of financial fraud, money laundering, and lack of consumer protection. Mayor Melinda E. Barrett's ordinance, which received strong council support, requires removal of all machines within 60 days or a $300 daily fine per machine. The city has about 415 crypto ATMs. Bitcoin Depot, the largest operator, faces particular scrutiny after revenue losses, a CEO change, and a lawsuit from the state Attorney General. Similar actions are occurring in other cities like South Hadley, Waltham, and Gloucester, while New Hampshire has passed legislation to reimburse scam victims.

ambcrypto04/01 12:04

Crypto ATMs face 60-day removal order in U.S. city – Report

ambcrypto04/01 12:04

Lorenzo Founder: Is the Crypto-Native Economy Dead? The Triple Dilemma of Crypto Civilization

Lorenzo founder Matt Ye argues that the crypto industry's core issues—such as declining asset quality, innovation stagnation, rampant scams, and institutional hesitation—are not cyclical but stem from a deeper civilizational crisis. He identifies three evolutionary stages of crypto’s "civilization": 1. **DeFi’s Anarchic Black Market**: A lawless environment where rug pulls and exit scams are rational, optimal strategies due to the absence of rules and accountability. 2. **CEX Feudalism**: Centralized exchanges impose order and reduce trust costs but create a “planned economy” that stifles innovation and prioritizes narratives aligned with exchange interests. 3. **Wall Street Colonization**: Traditional finance enters not to build but to exploit—imposing its own rules, extracting value, and offering no genuine support for crypto-native innovation. Ye concludes that the industry’s failures—poor native assets, lack of breakthrough innovation, distrust from serious institutions, and high骗子 density—are symptoms of a missing institutional foundation. Without accountable systems, either predation or idealism fills the void. The critical question remains: what is the next civilizational form for crypto?

marsbit03/31 04:22

Lorenzo Founder: Is the Crypto-Native Economy Dead? The Triple Dilemma of Crypto Civilization

marsbit03/31 04:22

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