A category motion filed in Idaho accuses the now-bankrupt crypto ATM operator of cashing in on fraud whereas leaving susceptible customers unprotected.
A retired Idaho couple has filed a federal class motion lawsuit in opposition to Bitcoin Depot Inc., alleging the corporate’s ATM community served as a pipeline for scammers who drained their total retirement financial savings — $76,000 — over 5 consecutive days in August 2025.
Karen and Robert Lacey, named plaintiffs in Lacey et al. v. Bitcoin Depot Inc., et al. (Case No. 1:26-cv-00288-DKG), say fraudsters posing as Norton customer support representatives and FBI brokers satisfied them their accounts had been tied to baby pornography and unlawful playing investigations.
The scammers directed the couple to deposit money at Bitcoin Depot ATMs between August 9 and August 13, 2025. To bolster the deception, the fraudsters triggered wi-fi networks labeled “FBI” to look on the Laceys’ telephones — alerts that remained seen for months after the deposits.
The 43-page criticism, filed Could 11, 2026, in U.S. District Court docket for the District of Idaho, fees that Bitcoin Depot processed every transaction “with out significant intervention” regardless of what it calls clear warning indicators: first-time customers making giant money deposits whereas on telephone calls with unknown events.
The lawsuit additional alleges the corporate fees charges of as much as 50% per transaction and depends on on-screen warning stickers — a safeguard the plaintiffs name “demonstrably ineffective”.
After Karen and Robert’s son filed a federal crime criticism, Bitcoin Depot issued two $1,000 refund checks — an quantity the lawsuit states didn’t cowl even the charges the corporate collected. Karen Lacey, who was retired when the fraud occurred, has since returned to the workforce, now working rotating hospital shifts.
The criticism cites Bitcoin Depot’s personal SEC filings, which state its companies “could also be exploited to facilitate criminality reminiscent of fraud” and that its danger administration “is probably not enough”.
Federal Commerce Fee information show Bitcoin ATM fraud losses elevated practically tenfold between 2020 and 2023, with a median sufferer lack of $10,000. By 2025, the FBI reported People misplaced $333 million to Bitcoin ATM fraud — greater than 10,000 victims in a single 12 months.
Bitcoin Depot submitting for chapter
The lawsuit arrives as Bitcoin Depot’s company place collapses. The corporate filed for voluntary Chapter 11 chapter on Could 18, 2026, and shut down its total community of greater than 9,000 ATMs throughout North America. The corporate had earlier disclosed a $3.6 million Bitcoin theft from its personal wallets in March 2026 and reported a 49.2% income decline in Q1 2026.
Plaintiffs search a jury trial, injunctive reduction, compensatory and punitive damages, restitution of charges paid, and legal professional’s charges.
