Web Desk
Stanley County, ND –Bitcoin ATM scams are sweeping across North Dakota, with Stanley County seeing a sharp increase in cases involving fraudsters posing as law enforcement officers and demanding payments via cryptocurrency.
According to the Stanley County Sheriff’s Office, more than 30 residents recently reported suspicious phone calls threatening arrest for missing jury duty.
Victims were instructed to pay $2,000 in fines using Bitcoin or gift cards, often at local convenience stores.
Fake Warrants and High-Pressure Tactics
Chief Deputy Greg Swanson said the scammers keep victims on the phone while directing them to Bitcoin ATMs, guiding them step-by-step through the transaction.
Some even spoof the Sheriff’s Office phone number or use official logos in emails to appear credible.
“These scammers are relentless,” said Swanson. “They’re using fear to manipulate people into giving up their money.”
Greg Sattizahn, State Court Administrator for the United Judicial System (UJS), emphasized that no government agency would ever call to demand payments—especially in Bitcoin.
He said if someone asks for cryptocurrency or gift cards while taling over the phone, that’s a red flag.
One Resident Loses $4,000
One local man reportedly lost $4,000 after complying with scam instructions. Despite an ongoing investigation, no suspects have been identified yet.
Jesse Schmidt of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in South Dakota described the scam as a volume game.
“They’re dialing for dollars,” Schmidt said. “They make thousands of calls a day, and just need a few hits to cash in big.”
AARP Pushes for Regulation of Crypto Kiosks
Amid the spike in fraud, AARP North Dakota is calling for regulation of cryptocurrency kiosks.
The group is urging Governor Kelly Armstrong to sign House Bill 1447, which aims to license operators, display fraud warnings on machines, and require printed receipts for all transactions.
“These machines look like regular ATMs,” said Janelle Moos, Advocacy Director at AARP North Dakota. “But once money is sent to a scammer’s crypto wallet, it’s gone forever.”
Moos said that fraudsters are exploiting the anonymity of digital assets to target the elderly and vulnerable.
She believes the new legislation will provide critical consumer protections and slow the rise in crypto-related fraud.
Crypto Scams Costing Billions Nationwide
According to an FBI report from 2023, cryptocurrency scams cost Americans $5.6 billion in losses.
North Dakota residents alone lost over $6 million to such scams last year.
Officials continue to warn the public: law enforcement agencies will never demand payment over the phone—and certainly not through Bitcoin.
