Операторы криптоматов под следствием: обвинения в мошенничестве и высоких комиссиях Headline: ATM Operators Under Scrutiny: Accusations of Fraud and High Fees

The operator of cryptocurrency ATMs, Athena Bitcoin, has been accused of profiting from scams targeting elderly individuals and failing to disclose inflated fees. The lawsuit was filed by the Attorney General of Washington, D.C., Brian Schwalb.

According to the complaint, during the initial five months of operation in the U.S. capital, 93% of the funds deposited into Athena’s ATMs were the result of outright fraud. In 2023, Americans reported losses totaling $189 million to the FBI related to ATM fraud.

The lawsuit also alleges that clients in Washington were charged fees as high as 26%, with the markup being «hidden in the price without any disclosure to the consumer.»

In one instance mentioned, the exchange rate for Bitcoin at an ATM was inflated by 25.4%—Athena sold the coin for $80,315 while its market price stood at $59,936. Consequently, out of the $10,000 deposited into the ATM, the company transferred only $7,463 to the recipient, retaining $2,537.

The prosecutor suggested that the fees charged increase proportionally with the size of the customer’s order.

In cases where victims deposit money into the ATM under the direction of scammers, the complaint states that «verbose warnings and complex legal disclaimers on Athena’s devices exacerbate confusion and pressure.»

Taken together, these allegations accuse the company of deceptive and unfair trading practices, as well as of financially exploiting vulnerable adults and seniors.

An Athena representative, in a comment to Decrypt, stated that they categorically disagree with the allegations and intend to defend themselves in court. According to the spokesperson, the company implements strict security protocols, informing consumers of risks and using guidelines for ATM operation.

«Our ATMs are equipped with various safety measures: from prominent warnings and daily transaction limits to five separate verification screens designed to prevent forced transactions and ensure that Bitcoins go to the wallet belonging to the [client],» the representative noted.

As of the time of writing, Coin ATM Radar reports that there are 507 cryptocurrency ATMs operating in Washington State, with a total of 31,019 devices across the United States.

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that in July, New Zealand’s Deputy Attorney General, Nicole McKee, announced plans to fully ban cryptocurrency ATMs in the country to combat money laundering.