Scammers have stolen more than $4.6 million from residents in Wyoming's three largest cities—Cheyenne, Gillette, and Sheridan—primarily via cryptocurrency ATMs, with $3 million lost in Gillette alone. Operating often from abroad, fraudsters target older victims using familiar tactics like impersonating authorities. Law enforcement reports highlight the untraceable nature of these machines, while education campaigns and proposed regulations seek to stem losses.
Crypto ATM scams have cost Wyoming residents over $4.6 million in Cheyenne, Gillette, and Sheridan, with approximately 45 such machines statewide, including 11 in Cheyenne, according to AARP estimates. These devices allow quick cash-to-crypto conversions sent to scammer-controlled wallets overseas, often in countries like Nigeria or Jamaica, making recovery nearly impossible.
In Gillette and Campbell County, losses exceeded $3 million in 2025, with police handling 75 to 100 cases annually, per Detective Alan Stuber. He described the evolution: “You get a call, they make threats... It used to be gift cards, but now it is these machines.” One notable case involved an $800,000 romance scam, complete with mailed gold bars and a scammer traveling to Wyoming.
Cheyenne Police Sgt. Kevin Malatesta noted at least $600,000 lost in 2025, with scams unfolding over weeks or years. “This has become a newer method... to get money from people in scams,” he said, emphasizing the lack of oversight compared to gift cards. Police documented 50 cases over 16 months ending August 2025.
In Sheridan, Officer Liz Shafer reported $1.5 million in unretrievable losses over two years ending fall 2025 across 15 cases. “Scammers use these methods because that money cannot be retrieved,” she said. Local police lack jurisdiction over foreign wallets, and the FBI prioritizes cases above $100,000.
Nationally, the FBI logged over 11,000 crypto ATM scam reports in 2024, totaling $246 million. Similar issues led attorneys general in Iowa and Washington, D.C., to sue operators, alleging over 90% fraudulent transactions. AARP Wyoming's Tom Lacock noted underreporting due to embarrassment or pessimism about recovery: “These are professional thieves.”
To fight back, Campbell County Republican Rep. Ken Clouston plans legislation requiring crypto ATMs to secure state banking licenses, impose transaction limits, and display warnings. Stuber shared details at an AARP webinar for legislators. Authorities urge reporting to www.ic3.gov or reportfraud.ftc.gov and promote public education, though recoveries remain rare.
