US Department of Justice Files Lawsuit to Recover $47,000 in Cryptocurrency in ATM Fraud Case

cryptonews.ruPubblicato 2026-08-01Pubblicato ultima volta 2026-08-01

Introduzione

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil forfeiture complaint seeking $47,461.73111 in USDT (Tether). Prosecutors allege the cryptocurrency was obtained through a fraud scheme where scammers tricked victims, including a Massachusetts woman, into withdrawing cash from their bank accounts and depositing it into crypto ATMs. In this case, the victim followed instructions after seeing a fake tech support pop-up, depositing funds into a Bitcoin Depot ATM. Authorities later traced a portion of the funds to a specific wallet, seized the assets, and linked the address to other victims. This action is part of a broader crackdown on crypto ATM fraud. In response to such scams, which the FBI reports cost Americans over $333 million in 2025, a bipartisan "Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act" has been introduced in Congress. The proposed bill would impose daily and initial deposit limits, mandate fraud warnings, and strengthen anti-money laundering requirements for operators. Regulatory bodies like FinCEN have also increased scrutiny of crypto kiosks. The Massachusetts case follows other recent forfeiture actions, including one targeting approximately $3.4 million in crypto linked to an investment scam and another for about $327,829 connected to a romance fraud scheme. Civil forfeiture allows the government to seize assets and, if successful, potentially return them to identified victims.

On July 31, the US Attorney's Office announced a civil forfeiture complaint for 47,461.73111 $USDT. Prosecutors allege that fraudsters obtained the cryptocurrency by tricking victims into withdrawing funds from their bank accounts and depositing cash via cryptocurrency ATMs.

A resident of Ware, Massachusetts, became a target of fraudsters after her computer stopped responding and a pop-up appeared on the screen instructing her to call customer support. The person who answered the call claimed her bank account had been hacked and instructed her to transfer money to the government for safekeeping.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) stated:

"At the direction of the fraudsters, the victim withdrew funds from her bank account and deposited them into a Bitcoin Depot-branded cryptocurrency ATM located at a gas station in Ludlow, Massachusetts."

The money deposited at the Ludlow ATM went to the criminals, and investigators later traced a portion of the proceeds to a cryptocurrency wallet. In March, authorities seized these funds and linked four other victims of similar fraud schemes to the same wallet address.

Cryptocurrency ATM Fraud Draws Congressional Attention

Cryptocurrency ATM fraud has also drawn attention on Capitol Hill, where the bipartisan "Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act" was introduced in the US House of Representatives on June 11. The proposed federal bill has not yet become law.

If passed, the bill would implement nationwide consumer protections, including a daily transaction limit of $2,000 and an overall deposit limit of $10,000 for new customers within their first 14 days. Additionally, it would require prominent fraud warnings, provide for fund recovery under certain circumstances, and enhance anti-money laundering and record-keeping obligations for cryptocurrency ATM operators. This proposal followed FBI data indicating that Americans lost over $333 million to cryptocurrency ATM fraud in 2025.

The US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and other federal regulators have also stepped up scrutiny of cryptocurrency kiosks, urging operators to strengthen anti-money laundering measures, monitor suspicious transactions, and identify fraud schemes targeting elderly and vulnerable consumers. As part of separate enforcement actions, financial penalties have been imposed on operators failing to maintain required compliance programs, reflecting broader efforts to reduce fraud perpetrated through cryptocurrency ATMs.

Government impersonation scams often rely on caller ID spoofing, fictitious legal threats, and urgent payment demands directing victims to cryptocurrency kiosks. The FBI has warned that criminals use these tactics to convince victims of the need to transfer funds immediately, beyond the reach of banks or law enforcement.

Massachusetts Expands Cryptocurrency Seizures Linked to Fraud

The latest filing follows a civil forfeiture complaint from March 10, which sought to seize approximately $3.4 million in cryptocurrency allegedly linked to an online investment fraud and money laundering scheme. Prosecutors alleged victims were persuaded to purchase Ether for investments falsely presented as backed by physical gold, before investigators traced and seized a portion of the proceeds.

Another civil forfeiture complaint, filed on March 2, involved approximately $327,829 in cryptocurrency allegedly linked to the laundering of proceeds from an online romance fraud. According to court documents, investigators traced the funds through intermediary wallets where they were converted into $USDT before arriving in wallets seized by federal authorities in August 2025.

The US Attorney's Office added:

"This is one of several civil forfeiture complaints filed by the US Attorney's Office seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting victims in Massachusetts."

Civil forfeiture proceedings allow third parties to claim ownership before the court determines whether those assets can be forfeited to the United States. If the government prevails and valid claims are resolved, the seized cryptocurrency could be returned to the alleged fraud victims.

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Domande pertinenti

QWhat action did the U.S. Department of Justice take regarding $47,461.73111 in USDT, and what was the alleged scheme?

AThe U.S. Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture lawsuit to seize $47,461.73111 in USDT, alleging that scammers obtained the cryptocurrency by tricking victims into withdrawing funds from their bank accounts and depositing cash through cryptocurrency ATMs.

QAccording to the article, what are some key provisions of the proposed 'Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act' bill in the U.S. House?

AKey provisions of the proposed 'Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act' include: a daily transaction limit of $2,000, a total deposit limit of $10,000 for new customers in their first 14 days, requiring prominent fraud warnings, providing for fund recovery under certain circumstances, and strengthening operators' anti-money laundering and recordkeeping obligations.

QHow did the scammers in the Massachusetts case convince the victim to transfer her money, as described by the DOJ?

AThe scammers convinced the victim after her computer became unresponsive and displayed a pop-up prompting a call to a support number. The person who answered claimed her bank account was hacked and instructed her to transfer money to the government for safekeeping.

QWhat broader enforcement trend does the article mention regarding cryptocurrency kiosks and their operators?

AThe article mentions that U.S. regulators like FinCEN have increased scrutiny of crypto kiosks, urging operators to enhance anti-money laundering measures, monitor for suspicious transactions, and identify fraud schemes. Financial penalties have been imposed on operators failing to maintain compliance programs.

QWhat is the general purpose of the civil forfeiture lawsuits mentioned in the article, and what happens if the government wins?

AThe purpose of the civil forfeiture lawsuits is for the U.S. government to seize cryptocurrency traced to fraudulent schemes. If the government prevails and valid claims are resolved, the seized cryptocurrency can be returned to the victims of the alleged fraud.

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