Scammers stole $30,000 from Cape Cod residents through Bitcoin ATM scheme

Aug. 27, 2026, 6:01 a.m. ET

• Scammers posing as sheriff's office employees defrauded Barnstable residents of approximately $30,000.
• Victims were coerced into sending cryptocurrency through a Bitcoin ATM to clear fake arrest warrants.
• Authorities advise the public that law enforcement will never demand payment via cryptocurrency.

Over the last few days, a Bitcoin ATM machine in Barnstable has become the focus of a police investigation after scammers stole thousands of dollars from residents through fraud.

In three separate incidents between Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, the Barnstable Police Department received reports from people who said they were coerced by scammers into using a Bitcoin ATM machine to send roughly $30,000 to someone they thought were Barnstable County Sheriff's Office employees, according to a Barnstable Police press release.

The scammers told the victims that they had a warrant for failed jury duty appearance or other related court proceedings, according to the press release, which was posted to social media.

The victim was then told to clear up the warrant by paying the sheriff's office with cryptocurrency.

The address of the particular Bitcoin ATM machine that the scammers used was not specified in the release. Police are continuing their investigation.