TL;DR: Tasmania Police reported in late September 2026 that Tasmanians lost $1.5 million through crypto ATMs in just three months, deposited under pressure from scammers. A 2025 police review of the state’s 15 biggest crypto ATM users found every one was a scam victim. AUSTRAC brought in cash limits and warnings in September 2025, but losses continue. If someone you met online or by phone asks you to put cash into a crypto ATM, it’s a scam.
The numbers
According to Crypto News Australia:
- Tasmanians lost $1.5 million to crypto ATM scams in three months (per a late-September police report);
- Tasmania has fewer than 30 crypto ATMs, up from one in 2021; Australia has close to 2,000;
- a 2025 review of the state’s 15 highest-value crypto ATM users found no legitimate activity. All 15 were linked to scams, with $900,000 put through ATMs and $2.5 million lost in total.
That last point is remarkable. Police looked at the heaviest users of these machines in one state and found only victims.
Which scams send people to the machines
Fake investments, romance scams, “recovery” scams, fake government or utility bills, tech support scams and job scams. Different stories, same ending: a stranger walks you to a crypto ATM, sometimes staying on the phone the whole time.
Why the crackdown hasn’t worked yet
AUSTRAC introduced cash limits, mandatory scam warnings and tougher customer checks for crypto ATM operators in September 2025. Warnings on a screen don’t do much when a “bank investigator” or online partner is in your ear telling you to ignore them. Overseas, some places have gone further: see how Wisconsin capped daily transactions and the FBI’s crypto kiosk data.
The red flag
Detective Sergeant Paul Turner of Tasmania Police named the biggest one: being “asked to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM by someone you have only met online or spoken to over the phone.”
No bank, government department, utility, employer or genuine partner will ask that. Ever.
If you or someone you know is mid-scam
- Stop. Don’t make another deposit, even if they say one more payment releases everything.
- Call your bank and report it to ReportCyber and Scamwatch.
- Beware of “recovery” offers that follow: see realistic crypto recovery.
Check where scammers get your details
Many crypto ATM victims were first contacted using leaked contact details. A free email exposure check shows which breaches your email appears in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Tasmanians lose to crypto ATM scams?
$1.5 million in three months, according to a late-September 2026 Tasmania Police report.
Are crypto ATMs legal in Australia?
Yes, but operators face AUSTRAC cash limits, scam warnings and customer checks introduced in September 2025.
What’s the biggest warning sign?
Being asked to deposit cash into a crypto ATM by someone you met online or who called you.
Can crypto ATM deposits be reversed?
Rarely. Report immediately to your bank, ReportCyber and Scamwatch, and don’t pay any "recovery" service.
Sources
- Crypto News Australia: Crypto ATM scam losses hit $1.5M in Tasmania (Oct 9, 2026)
- Scamwatch
- ReportCyber