Arizona AG Secures $171K Refunds for 35 Crypto ATM Victims

On Aug. 12, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced her office had helped 35 victims of crypto ATM scams recover $171,332 in full refunds under the state’s refund process for fraudulently induced transactions. The refunds were obtained under the Cryptocurrency Kiosk License Fraud Prevention law, which took effect Sept. 26, 2025.

The law creates a narrow mandatory refund right. To qualify, customers must notify the kiosk operator and either local law enforcement or the attorney general within 30 days of the transaction and provide an official report confirming the transaction was induced by fraud. Only “new customers” are guaranteed full refunds; the statute defines a new customer as someone who has been with the same kiosk operator for less than 10 days. Eligible refunds cover the full transaction amount and all operator fees.

The statute also sets transaction limits and duties for kiosk operators. New customers face a $2,000 daily cap and existing customers face a $10,500 daily cap. Operators must display on-screen acknowledgments before transactions, provide receipts, maintain 24-hour live customer support and perform blockchain screening to block wallets previously linked to fraud. Arizona’s guidance for victims instructs them to keep receipts, submit evidence and document any customer-service contacts.

Federal and state data show kiosk scams have increased. In 2025 the FBI recorded 460 Arizona complaints about cryptocurrency kiosks with $14.53 million in adjusted losses. Nationwide the FBI logged 13,460 kiosk complaints with about $388.98 million in adjusted losses. People aged 50 and older accounted for more than half of kiosk complaints and suffered over $302 million of the losses. In 2025 Americans reported roughly $11.366 billion in crypto-related losses across all types of fraud.

Legislative and enforcement actions are under way. A proposed federal bill, the Stop Crypto ATM Scams Act, would set national transaction limits, require warnings and recordkeeping, and allow refunds of operator charges but not the transaction principal while preserving states’ ability to adopt stricter rules. In at least one federal case, prosecutors sought forfeiture of assets traced to five victims whose payments converged in a single wallet in a matter involving about $47,000; officials noted the cryptocurrency may be subject to third-party claims before any forfeiture and potential victim repayment.

In a statement, Mayes urged anyone affected by crypto ATM fraud to act quickly: “My office is happy to help any victim of crypto ATM fraud receive a refund they are entitled to under Arizona law. Knowing the signs of crypto ATM fraud can help protect you and your loved ones, but if you have fallen victim to this scam, contact my office right away. We are here to help.”

Arizona officials emphasize the 30-day notification window as the most immediate constraint for victims seeking mandatory refunds. People who believe they were scammed at a crypto kiosk are advised to preserve the transaction receipt and record the date, time, location, amount and a description of how they were induced to send funds to support a claim.