365Crypto
A sheriff in Jasper County, Texas, went full action-hero. He cut open a crypto ATM to recover money lost in a scam.
Scammed by a “Government Agent”
A family got a scary call from someone claiming to be a government worker. The caller said they owed $25,000 in fines. They were told to pay using a Bitcoin ATM.
The family followed instructions and deposited the money. But it was all fake. The scammer vanished with the Bitcoin.
Cops Bring the Power Tools
Sheriff Chuck Havard didn’t just take notes. He got a search warrant and used power-cutting tools to slice open the Bitcoin ATM, operated by Bitcoin Depot.
Inside, they recovered around $32,000. That included the $25,000 the scammers stole.
Bitcoin Depot hasn’t commented yet.
Was It the Right Move?
Some people online aren’t impressed. A Reddit user asked, “Did the cops just wreck someone else’s property and grab the money?”
Others say unless Bitcoin Depot was involved in the scam, cutting the machine made no sense.
It’s like smashing a vending machine because someone used it to send money to a scammer.
Sheriff Says, “Not on My Watch”
Havard stood by his actions. “We’ll use every tool we have to protect our people,” he said.
He admitted crypto scam cases are tricky. So far, the scammer hasn’t been found.
Crypto ATMs Under Fire
Crypto ATMs are getting more attention lately—and not the good kind.
Spokane, Washington, just banned them. Australia limited how much cash people can deposit or withdraw at these machines.
In April, the FBI reported nearly 11,000 complaints about crypto ATM scams in 2024. Losses hit $246 million—a big jump from last year.
