Springfield metropolis councilors will consider eliminating cryptocurrency kiosks after police and metropolis officers say residents have been scammed out of practically $1 million.
The kiosks, also referred to as Bitcoin ATMs, appear to be most different ATMs and are sometimes present in locations like comfort shops or liquor shops. The kiosks permit individuals to buy, promote or switch digital forex like Bitcoin.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno launched the proposed ordinance this week, arguing crypto kiosks have focused “harmless individuals, particularly our senior residents.”
“In simply over a yr, fraudsters and scammers who make the most of these machines to goal victims have scammed many hardworking and weak individuals proper right here in Springfield out of practically $1 million,” Sarno stated in a statement.
The proposed ban would require the kiosks be eliminated inside 15 days the ordinance passes.
The Springfield Police Division stated they’ve investigated practically 50 circumstances during which residents or guests have been defrauded out of $968,528 between January 2025 and July 2026.
In accordance to FBI data, Massachusetts noticed 296 complaints about scams involving most of these ATMs final yr — with practically $7 million reported in losses.
Springfield police officers stated the most typical scheme concerned rip-off callers pretending to be regulation enforcement, and that the fraudsters “use worry and urgency” to get victims to imagine they want to pay a superb instantly.
“As soon as once more, no police division. Sheriff’s division, or authorities company will name asking for cash on this method,” Springfield Police Superintendent Larry Akers stated. “We now have seen individuals scammed out of their [life] financial savings, and it’s onerous to hint and observe as soon as it enters these machines.”
The Springfield City Council will vote on the proposed ordinance in December.
If handed, town will be a part of a handful of different Massachusetts communities which have banned Bitcoin ATMs, together with Gloucester, Framingham, Ludlow and Haverhill.
