MANCHESTER, September 20 — New Hampshire officials gathered at the Manchester Police Department to warn residents about cryptocurrency ATM scams and to preview protections set to take effect in December under Senate Bill 482. Governor Kelly Ayotte, Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais, Manchester Police Detective Ray Lamy, and Nashua resident Ken Heideman all spoke at the press conference. Heideman was victimized in 2022 and shared his experience to show the harm these schemes cause.
He was pictured speaking with Ayotte after the event. Ayotte issued a direct warning to the criminals behind the scams.
“We’re not going to accept fraudsters here in New Hampshire, and I want anyone who’s listening, who’s thinking they’re going to target one of our seniors — we’re coming after you,” she said.
How the scams work
The press conference highlighted how cryptocurrency ATM scams have become an increasingly common tool for criminals who impersonate government officials, law enforcement officers, financial institutions, and technology support representatives. The scammers convince victims to deposit cash into cryptocurrency machines. Because those transactions are irreversible, victims rarely recover their funds.
The machines are often located in convenience stores and other public places, which makes them easy for scammers to direct victims toward.
A coordinated response
The event brought together state and local law enforcement, government officials, and consumer protection advocates to coordinate messaging and prevention efforts. The presence of the governor, the mayor, and a local police detective at the Manchester department underlined the state and local approach to the problem. Senate Bill 482 is designed to add safeguards for consumers using cryptocurrency ATMs.
Officials used the press conference to signal both a warning to criminals and a commitment to protecting residents, particularly seniors who are frequently targeted. The participating officials did not release additional statistics on scam losses or arrest numbers.
What comes next is the December implementation date for Senate Bill 482. Until then, the state’s message to residents remains one of caution, and its message to fraudsters is the one Ayotte delivered in Manchester.
