Avoid All Bitcoin Scams
The world of cryptocurrency makes our lives easy and the future of finance bright. It’s easy to own Bitcoin because it’s easy to create a wallet and send Bitcoin anywhere around the world. Bitcoin ATMs are also the most convenient way to buy Bitcoin, as well as sell Bitcoin. Unfortunately, some scammers take advantage of this great technology and scam you by using Bitcoin as a payment method. Scam artists are very crafty, bossy, and will try to pressure you into sending them Bitcoin. However, you can always outsmart them by following a simple rule. The number one, and in our opinion, the only rule to avoid all types of Bitcoin scams is to:
Never send Bitcoin to ANYONE you met online or contacted you by phone, text message, or email.
They will pretend to be your lover or best friend and ask for “help”. They will pretend to be a government agency, like the IRS and the Social Security Administration, your utility company, an employer, a hiring agent, an investor, a real estate agent, an Airbnb agent, an event/concert ticket broker, your local police department, an Initial Coin or Exchange Offering, a public defender, a pyramid scheme offer, an eBay seller, a Craigslist sellers, a car sales person, and the list of scams goes on. Recently, some scammers promise to send COVID-19 government checks after they receive a payment from you. Some may even send you fake or fraudulent checks, ask you deposit them, withdraw cash, and send Bitcoin. A few days later, the check bounces and the victim loses their money.
If you are a victim of a blackmailing scam, please visit this website on ways to avoid Bitcoin blackmailing scams.
Here’s a list of more things to consider:
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No US Government agency or utility company will ever ask you for Bitcoin. So don’t let them intimidate you.
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No US Government agency will offer you a grant or a loan and request Bitcoin from you.
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It’s important to also keep in mind that most major online retailers do not accept Bitcoin as a payment, and the ones that do, accept Bitcoin through their secure websites, and not over the phone or email.
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Scammers can fake any telephone number or email address they want.
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Don’t rely on a caller ID or email address to determine the legitimacy of the story. So just because your caller ID shows the name of a company or local police department, or the email ends with .gov, does not mean it’s legitimate.
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Never scan a Bitcoin wallet QR code that you don’t personally own at a Bitcoin ATM.
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Contact us if you are one of our customers and think that you might be a victim of a Bitcoin scam.
Some of the most common scams, are relationship scams. The victim will believe that they are in a relationship with someone they never met or rarely met. Usually, that person is in another country and will ask the victim to help them with an urgent payment. They will ask the victim for Bitcoin to purchase an airplane ticket to come see them or to go back home, to purchase equipment for a business, to pay medical bills, and the list of crafty excuses goes on. These types of scams can go unnoticed for a while and cause the victim a lot of financial damage.
Wow! Again, thank you for this information.
Seanne, you are most welcome. We do everything we can to inform people about scammers that try to steal your money and your bitcoin.
Can I send cash to a bitcoin acc.
Yes. Some of our Bitcoin ATM machines are 2-way BTMs, which means you can buy and sell bitcoin. You can sell your bitcoin at these Bitcoin ATMs and withdraw cash. Here’s a tutorial on how to sell your bitcoin at a Bitcoin ATM.
I realize that this article is from last year but beware, some of these scammers are now starting to use dating sites to find their victims, unfortunately for the last two that try it on me I have a criminal justice degree and I am very vigilant in what I do, so there was no getting over on me. The scammers are praying on women they are saying that they are overseas and cannot have access to bitcoin machines, ATM machines and would like to wire money so that the women can go to ATM machines for them and withdraw money, this is a red alert right there. Other scammers are saying that they are deployed overseas, which is wrong of them to use the military as an excuse, saying the ATM machines are not working and asking for good google cards to be sent in $100 incrimates.I am just posting this morning for women and possibly men to be where that these men will try to say they love you say they want to be with you and then turn around and try to scam you.
Amanda, thank you for sharing this information with us. You are correct. You should never buy bitcoin for anyone you met online or called you over the phone regardless of the reasons they give you. You shouldn’t buy it for them even if they wire you the money because your bank will eventually close your account and you will also be in a lot of legal trouble. In these cases, you will be helping a criminal organization without even knowing it.
Hello, Thank you for any advice you can give on the below job offer I recently received:
“Following up on our previous email. Funds to carry out your assignment was delivered today to your mailbox, please confirm receipt when you have it. Then proceed with your assignment as instructed below. The envelope contains a check of $2,450, you are required to deposit the check at your bank, through mobile app/electronically or via your bank ATM, wait for funds to be available before you begin your task. Once funds become available, withdraw the required sum $2,150 and proceed to your Bitcoin ATM location to complete your assignment.
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTION:
You will be surveying local BATMs (Bitcoin ATMs) in your city or nearby. Our check covers all expenses of the assignment, from the real-time purchases of Bitcoin and your compensation of $300.00 for completing this survey assignment. Complete your survey by purchasing the items below according to specifications
REQUIRED BITCOIN ATM MACHINE LOCATIONS TO USE:
Locations:
***Censored***
SPECIFICATIONS TO PURCHASE:
CHECK AMOUNT: $2,450.00
BITCOIN PURCHASE: $2,150.00
SALARY: $300.00
Please see attached for your required QR code to use, and contact your assigned coordinator to walk you through and provide further guidance to complete your first assignment.
***Censored***
Please note when you’re done, you’ll send in your feedback/assessments and attach the receipts (as proof survey completed). The report will be reviewed and graded and you will be given your second assignment.
Warm Regards,
Team Head BATMs Survey Group.”
I’ve received a hard copy check which I’ve deposited into a checking account and I’m waiting to it clears before I perform any quality assurance. Like I stated previously, I’m just looking for some validity if you could please provide. V/r, Rick
Rick,
You should immediately stop dealing with these people. This is criminal activity. Report this to your bank and if you made any bitcoin purchases, contact the BTM company you purchased from and let them know what happened. Report this to your local police department as this is highly illegal and could get you into a lot of trouble. Never purchase BTC for other people regardless of who they claim to be. Please call us at 201-677-2646 should you have any questions or concerns.
I believe someone is trying to scam me I don’t know what to do he knows my email phone and other info
Kimberly, please see this article about the various types of scams that involve bitcoin (https://growthbtm.com/avoid-all-bitcoin-scams/). You should not send them any bitcoin or any money for that matter regardless of who they claim to be. Block them and report them to your local authorities.
Are you a victim of the following ;
Binary option, Forex trading, Romance, ICO Scams, Online betting, Bitcoin, Phishing, exchange scams etc
Scams Rescue is currently recovering funds for all victims. Service delivery is second to none. I obliged myself the privilege to announce this to everyone. Hurry and contact on; **censored**
Thank me later.
The person that posted this is most likely a scammer. We kept this to illustrate how crafty scammers can be. All the examples they gave (Binary option, Forex trading, Romance, ICO Scams, Online betting, Bitcoin, Phishing, exchange scams) are all real scams that you should avoid. Another type of scam is what this person is trying to do here. Any person or company that promises to get you your stolen bitcoin back are also scammers. Stay away from them, do not follow their instructions, do not give them any information and do not send them any Bitcoin.
is there a thing called bitcoin survey team with a woman named karen handy
We’ve never heard of such a thing and they might be scammers trying to collect your information or trying to scam you and ask for Bitcoin. We recommend that you avoid dealing with them all together.
I received a check for $2900 after I got a text message for becoming a Bitcom agent then asked if he sent me an email in regards to the job and his name was Luis Costilla, no instructions what so ever with the check very Scetchy!
Hello Jess. Thank you for sharing and you’re absolutely right about it being odd. You are most likely dealing with criminals. It’s a good idea not to proceed with them and to also report this to the authorities.
Hello Sir/ Madam my name is Larry Reuben my Fiance bought some Bitcoin from your Bitcoin ATM machine and for more than 3days now she has not gotten the Bitcoin on the wallet she sent yet. I have message u guys on Facebook and phone text and calling and emails but u guys are not responding hope this is not a fake Bitcoin site like others.
transaction ID number: cb311522b5 and the
amount is $5000
Bitcoin purchase: 0.20742632
Please kindly respond back and God bless y’all.
This is an example of a love scam. This scammer tricked a customer into purchasing Bitcoin. We froze the transaction and the scammer did not receive any Bitcoin. To learn more about Bitcoin scams, please check out our article on ways to detect and avoid Bitcoin scams.