Police saw into Bitcoin ATM to recover $25,000, but innocent owner takes the hit

Cryptocurrency is by far the most popular medium through which scammers move money. This is because cryptocurrency makes it relatively easier for scammers to cover their tracks, thanks to its focus on anonymity and decentralization. According to a 2024 FBI report, $9.32 billion worth of scam proceeds were moved through cryptocurrency and $247 million through Bitcoin ATMs alone. So cases like this one are not exactly rare.

On the evening of June 16, 2025, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a family in the county had been scammed. It dispatched two deputy officers to the residence to gather more information on the scam. Further investigation pointed the officers to a Bitcoin ATM in Hardin County; the Sheriff's office wasted no time in dispatching officers.

Once in Hardin County, Chief Deputy Pulliam and Jasper County's investigator, David Lampman proceeded to obtain, serve, and execute a state search warrant. The money trail led the officers to a Bitcoin ATM, with the help of a Hardin County Sheriff’s Office deputy, the officers used a hand-held abrasive saw to cut open the ATM and recovered a total of $31,900. The money was returned to Jasper County pending a seizure hearing.

I want to thank Chief Pulliam and our staff along with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office for their aggressive approach to this investigation. Please ensure that you are being vigilant to protect you and your family from online scammers because these investigations can be very complex and difficult to solve. — Sheriff Chuck Havard.

As a result, the ATM owner is left with a damaged machine, a disrupted business, and the potential of permanently losing his money. The scammers, on the other hand, are still at large.

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