Scammers are convincing seniors to feed cash into cryptocurrency kiosks and walk away with nothing, and a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy says the South Shore's large retirement-age population makes the area a prime target.
Master Deputy Jeffery E. Merry Jr. issued a public safety advisory Wednesday, July 22, warning residents about the machines, which look like ATMs but convert cash into cryptocurrency. The transfers are irreversible. Once the money leaves, no bank or credit card company can claw it back.
The kiosks also charge fees of 10% to 30% per transaction, Merry wrote in his advisory, published in the Observer News.
How the kiosk scam works
Criminals contact victims by phone, email, text or social media and pressure them to withdraw cash, then deposit it at a kiosk. The pretexts vary: the caller claims the victim must "protect" a bank account, pay overdue taxes, verify an account or claim a prize.
"Cryptocurrency itself is not the problem — criminals exploit unfamiliar technology to steal from unsuspecting victims," Merry wrote.
The warning carries extra weight along the South Shore. Nearly 20% of Apollo Beach's 26,002 residents are 65 or older, according to U.S. Census Bureau data from 2020. In neighboring Sun City Center, that figure is 83%, with a median age of 75.
New state law adds protections
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 505 on June 27, giving Florida new tools to police the kiosk industry. The law requires kiosk operators to register with the state Office of Financial Regulation and display a mandatory fraud warning on every machine's opening screen.
The warning reads, in part: "If you have been directed to this machine by someone claiming to be a government agent, bill collector, law enforcement officer, or anyone you do not know personally, stop this transaction immediately."
HB 505 also caps daily transactions at $2,000 for new users and $10,000 for established customers. Operators must provide transaction records to the state as a condition of license renewal.
Rep. Mike Owen sponsored the bill in the Florida House. Sen. Darryl Rouson championed it in the Senate after hearing law enforcement testimony about real-world scam victims, according to Merry's advisory.
How to protect yourself
Merry listed four steps residents should take:
- Never use a crypto kiosk because someone you don't know told you to.
- Treat any request to convert cash into cryptocurrency as a red flag.
- Talk to a trusted family member or financial advisor before making large or unfamiliar transactions.
- Report suspected scams immediately.
Residents can reach Master Deputy Merry directly at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office at 813-242-5515.
