Indiana Bans Crypto Kiosks!
“The first statewide ban on crypto ATMs—and the fraud crisis behind it.”
In gas stations, laundromats, and grocery stores, we pass them without a second thought—ATMs, coin-counting machines, vending kiosks.
And then there are the bright yellow ones.
The ones that look ordinary… until they’re not.
On March 9, 2026, Indiana became the first state in the nation to ban cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks.
The move comes amid a dramatic rise in scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraud involving cryptocurrency ATMs increased nearly tenfold between 2020 and 2023.
By 2025, losses tied to these machines exceeded $333 million nationwide, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to an FBI report, cited in February’s AARP Bulletin—individuals 60 and older accounted for 86 percent of the losses in 2025.
In recent years the bright yellow kiosks had proliferated to nearly 900 units throughout the state of Indiana.
Too Close to Home
After attending an AARP volunteer meeting last October, I began paying more attention.
At the gas station near my home, I asked the staff about their yellow box sitting next to a bank ATM. They didn’t hesitate.
“You can tell something is off,” one cashier told me. “The person is on the phone the entire time… someone is walking them through how to operate the machine.”
Each time it happened, the staff quickly called the local police who convinced the potential victim it was a scam. All three times, the person at their Bitcoin ATM machine was a senior citizen!
While Indiana is the first to enact a full ban, it’s not alone in recognizing the threat. In 2025, 17 states passed laws aimed at protecting consumers from crypto-kiosk-related scams—signaling a growing national response to a rapidly evolving form of fraud. AARP got involved at a national level in early 2024.
Why Seniors?
These scams work because, like most fraud, they create urgency, fear, and confusion. They target older adults who are less familiar with cryptocurrency but deeply motivated to “fix” a problem quickly, whether it’s a supposed legal issue, part of a romance scam, to prevent a utility shutoff, or a relative in trouble.
Advocacy at Work!
As a volunteer with AARP Indiana for nearly a decade, I’ve seen how education and awareness makes a difference in the lives of senior citizens. AARP has a Fraud Watch Network, as a free resource for all. It is designed to help those of all ages to:
Stay Informed
Find Support
Have a Voice.
1-877-908-3360 is the AARP Fraud Helpline.
With these machines banned in Indiana, we have something even more powerful: prevention built into the system. With active AARP volunteer groups in Evansville, Gary, and Fort Wayne in addition to Indianapolis, visit: www.aarp.org/states/indiana/ and learn what scam prevention activities are happening near you. One way is to shred documents that identify you personally and financially. There is another free document shredding event happening on April 11th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Indianapolis. The event is at Lincoln Tech, 7225 Winton Drive, Building 128, Indianapolis 46268
At www.aarp.org/states/ you can learn about scam prevention activities in your state. Remember, the AARP Fraud Helpline is available at no charge to everyone.
3 Ways to Avoid Crypto Kiosk Scams
1. No legitimate organization will demand crypto payments
If someone asks you to pay using Bitcoin or a crypto ATM—stop. It’s a scam.
2. Slow down and break contact
Scammers rely on urgency. Hang up. Take a breath. Call a trusted friend or family member, the police non-emergency number, or the AARP Fraud Helpline at 1-877-908-3360
3. Never take instructions from someone on the phone.
If someone is guiding you step-by-step to use a kiosk, that’s a major red flag.
Tell A Friend!
The bright yellow machines may be gone from Indiana, but the scams are not.
Awareness is our strongest defense. Seek other sources including Age Options if you live in the Chicago area, public libraries and local senior centers.
Share this with someone you love—because the best way to stop a scam is to make sure it never starts.
Previous blog post about Scams and Fraud in October 2025.