Wilmington Police Prevent $10,000 Crypto ATM Scam

A 90-year-old North Carolina woman was saved from losing nearly $10,000 to a cryptocurrency scam after a Wilmington police officer intervened at a gas station bitcoin kiosk [1]. The incident, which began with a fraudulent text message, highlights the growing risk of physical crypto ATMs being used as conduits for financial exploitation [1].

The anatomy of the attempted theft

The attempted fraud began on July 27 when the victim, Mary Ann Nunley, received a text message claiming her Geek Squad account had expired and that $390 would be automatically deducted [1]. After calling the number provided in the message to dispute the charge, Nunley was engaged in hours of back-and-forth communication with a scammer who promised to refund her money while simultaneously instructing her to withdraw nearly $10,000 in cash to "fix" the account issue [1].

The scammer directed Nunley to a specific bitcoin kiosk at a local gas station to deposit the funds [1]. Upon her arrival, the machine was non-functional, but she remained on the phone with the perpetrator while holding the cash [1]. Wilmington Police Officer Nicholas Morrison, who was conducting a routine check at the location, observed the victim holding the large sum of money while appearing distressed on a call [1]. Recognizing the hallmarks of a common cryptocurrency-based fraud, Morrison intervened, advised her that she was being targeted, and helped her terminate the call [1].

Recovery and prevention

Following the intervention, Officer Morrison verified that no funds had been transferred to the scammer [1]. He assisted the victim by visiting a Best Buy location to confirm the legitimacy of her Geek Squad account status and subsequently drove her to her bank to redeposit the cash [1].

Local law enforcement officials have reiterated that individuals should never utilize cryptocurrency ATMs if they are being threatened or instructed to do so by unknown parties [1]. While the victim successfully avoided the loss, the case underscores the persistent use of decentralized, irreversible crypto payment rails by bad actors to target vulnerable populations [1].

What to watch

• ATM Security Protocols: Monitor for increased regulatory or municipal pressure on operators of crypto kiosks to implement mandatory "cooling-off" periods or warning prompts for large, suspicious transactions.
• Fraud Patterns: Watch for shifts in scam tactics as perpetrators move away from traditional banking channels toward physical digital asset terminals that offer anonymity and immediate settlement.

The reunion between the victim and the officer nearly a month later serves as a rare positive outcome in a landscape where crypto-related fraud often results in the permanent loss of assets. The case remains a stark reminder of the reliance on manual intervention to disrupt automated, high-pressure financial scams.