Q: What is a crypto kiosk and how do scammers use it? A: A crypto kiosk is an ATM-like machine in convenience stores or gas stations that accepts cash and sends cryptocurrency to a wallet you name, often by scanning a QR code. Understanding what the machine does is a first step in learning how to spot crypto kiosk scams because scammers direct victims to scan QR codes and feed cash into kiosks while they coach the payment over the phone. Q: What common red flags should I watch for on calls, texts, or at the machine? A: If you want to learn how to spot crypto kiosk scams, watch for urgent demands to pay “bail,” “overdue taxes,” or “account holds,” instructions to scan a QR code at a kiosk, and orders to stay on the phone or keep the payment secret. Also be wary of threats of arrest, spoofed numbers, and messages that pressure you to act immediately. Q: Who do these scams usually target and how widespread are the kiosks in Texas? A: Law enforcement says scammers particularly target older adults — roughly 70% of kiosk users seen in scams are over age 60 — but adults of all ages have been hit. Texas has an estimated 4,000 kiosks and almost 1,200 Texans lost a combined $56.8 million last year after being steered to cryptocurrency ATMs. Q: What should I do immediately if someone pressures me to use a crypto kiosk? A: Hang up and verify the claim by calling the agency or bank using a number from an official website or your card, and refuse any demand to pay with a kiosk, gift cards, or a crypto address. If you are at a store, ask the clerk for help, do not scan QR codes you did not create, and walk away to avoid rushed, pressured payments. Q: If I already paid at a kiosk, what steps can I take to try to recover my money? A: Act fast in the first 36 to 48 hours: call your bank, file a report with local police and the FBI at IC3.gov, and contact the kiosk operator’s support line with the machine ID, time, amount, and wallet QR. Save all texts, emails, call logs, receipts, screenshots, and photos because recovery is rare but these records can help investigations. Q: How can families help elderly relatives avoid falling for these scams? A: Teach older relatives the signs and set simple rules such as a 24-hour pause before acting on money requests and a “no-secrets” policy that requires telling someone before large transfers. Small steps like posting a sign near the phone that real police, courts, and banks will never ask for crypto and agreeing on a family code word can prevent panic-driven losses and help people learn how to spot crypto kiosk scams. Q: What can store owners and clerks do to prevent people from being scammed at kiosks? A: Stores can place bold warning signs on or above kiosks, post local non-emergency police numbers, and train staff to spot distress such as a customer guided by someone on a phone or depositing large sums of cash. Clerks should be empowered to interrupt with a simple question like “Is someone telling you to pay a fine or bail?” because staff intervention has helped stop some victims. Q: Are there any laws or industry actions addressing crypto kiosk fraud in Texas? A: Thirty states have passed laws regulating the kiosks, including four that recently banned the machines, while Texas currently has no statewide oversight but some cities like San Antonio require warning signs. Lawmakers are weighing broader action ahead of the 2027 Legislature, and operators such as Bitcoin Depot have shut down large parts of their networks amid litigation and enforcement pressure.