Senator Bostar Receives AARP Nebraska’s Community Fraud Fighter Award

AARP Nebraska is pleased to announce Senator Eliot Bostar of Lincoln (District 29) as the recipient of its Community Fraud Fighter Award. This prestigious AARP award represents a select, bipartisan group of elected officials, law enforcement, and other partners across the country who have made significant efforts to prevent fraud.

AARP Nebraska appreciates Senator Bostar for his leadership introducing the bipartisan Controllable Electronic Record Fraud Prevention Act (LB609) during the recent legislative session. We also commend the Nebraska Legislature for its support in passing the bill, which was signed into law by Governor Jim Pillen in March 2025.

Effective September 2, 2025, the new law, under the Nebraska Money Transmitters Act, mandates licensing for operators of cryptocurrency kiosks in the state and establishes daily transaction limits of $2,000 for new customers and $10,000 for existing customers using these machines. The law also requires clear written warnings to raise scam awareness, transaction receipts to aid criminal investigations, capped fees at 18% to prevent excessive charges, and refunds for fraudulent transactions reported within 30 days—full refunds for new customers and fee refunds for existing customers.

“Senator Bostar’s leadership in addressing cryptocurrency kiosk and gift card fraud has been crucial in safeguarding Nebraskans’ financial security,” said Jina Ragland, Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for AARP Nebraska. “This legislation strengthens protections against emerging fraud schemes and underscores the vital role policymakers play in defending consumers from deceptive practices.”

AARP Nebraska has long advocated for robust consumer protections aimed at preventing criminals from exploiting cryptocurrency kiosks and other avenues to defraud Nebraskans of their hard-earned money. Federal, state, and local policymakers remain essential partners in this effort, working together to increase public awareness, reinforce safeguards, and encourage timely intervention.

Scammers steal billions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers every year, and older adults are disproportionately affected by fraud and scams using cryptocurrency kiosks. In 2023, the FBI received over 5,500 complaints involving cryptocurrency kiosks, and Americans reported over $189 million in stolen funds. Over 65% of the theft losses in cryptocurrency kiosk fraud were experienced by adults 60+. The most common scams involving cryptocurrency kiosks are tech support fraud, extortion, government impersonation, investment schemes, and confidence or romance scams.

The AARP Fraud Watch Network™ launched the Community Fraud Fighter Award to honor at least one Community Fraud Fighter in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This nationwide effort highlights the depth and breadth of AARP’s work on fraud prevention and its commitment to addressing fraud and treating victims with dignity and respect. For helpful fraud prevention resources, a scam-tracking map, a toll-free hotline, and more, visit aarp.org/NebraskaScamAlerts.