Georgia Woman Loses $4,900 After Fake Jury Duty Threat Leads to Bitcoin ATM Deposit

A woman in Forsyth County, Georgia, was duped into depositing $4,900 into a Bitcoin ATM after a caller claimed she had missed jury duty and would be arrested unless she paid immediately.

How the Scam Operated

The caller threatened arrest and instructed the victim to use a cryptocurrency kiosk—commonly called a Bitcoin ATM—to convert cash into Bitcoin and send it to a wallet controlled by the fraudster. The victim complied, believing the demand was an official court procedure.

Official Warnings

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned that courts never demand payment by phone, and law‑enforcement agencies do not threaten arrest for unpaid jury duty through phone calls. A caller ID displaying a police number does not verify the call’s authenticity.

Broader Scope of Crypto ATM Scams

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, more than 13,400 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks were filed in 2025, with reported losses exceeding $388 million. While some complaints involve other transaction types, the data highlights a growing trend of fraud targeting crypto ATMs.

Consumer Protection Efforts

States are beginning to address these losses. For example, Arizona approved refunds totaling $171,332 for 35 victims of crypto ATM fraud under a state consumer‑protection law. Victims are advised to keep receipts, note the kiosk location, and record any wallet addresses or caller information when reporting to law enforcement or the FBI’s complaint portal.