Recently, the Jasper County Sheriff in Texas attracted public attention after using a saw to open a Bitcoin ATM.
Incident in Jasper County
Sheriff Chuck Havard obtained a search warrant and physically cut open a Bitcoin ATM operated by Bitcoin Depot to retrieve approximately $32,000, including $25,000 lost by a scammed family. The fraudster impersonated a government official and directed the family to deposit funds into a specific Bitcoin address.
Public Reaction to the Sheriff’s Actions
The sheriff's actions sparked intense debate in the crypto community. Many Reddit users questioned the legality of targeting the ATM instead of pursuing the scammer. One user likened this move to confiscating all the money from a CVS register after someone bought a bunch of gift cards for scammers. Concerns were also expressed regarding the destruction of an innocent third party's property and the potential theft of their funds.
Increased Scrutiny of Crypto ATMs
Sheriff Havard acknowledged the challenges of tracking down crypto scammers, as the fraudulent party has yet to be located. The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of crypto ATMs nationwide due to their increasing involvement in scams. For instance, Spokane, Washington, has banned crypto ATMs entirely in response to a surge in local fraud cases. The FBI also reported nearly 11,000 crypto ATM scam complaints in 2024, totaling over $246 million in losses.
This situation highlights the need for better regulation of crypto ATMs and effective measures to protect citizens from scams.
