North Dakota Legislation Would Regulate Crypto ATMs

As director of the consumer protection and antitrust division for the North Dakota attorney general’s office for 30 years, Parrell Grossman always felt his work was more of a calling than a job.

Now Grossman, who retired last year, is continuing his mission — this time as an AARP volunteer educating older North Dakotans on how to spot and avoid the latest scams. Fraud prevention requires collaboration among many groups, says Grossman, noting that AARP North Dakota’s ability to attract large audiences has helped the attorney general’s office reach more consumers across the state.

“Consumer fraud is a bottomless pit,” he says. “With the increasing prevalence and use of technology ... schemes are always proliferating and adapting.”

AARP North Dakota this year is fighting back against scammers on multiple fronts — including hosting fraud talks, providing free document shredding and advocating for legislation in Bismarck.

During the current legislative session, the organization is advocating for a bill to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks that convert cash into Bitcoin and other types of digital currency.

Criminals are increasingly using the machines — which can look like traditional bank ATMs and are located in gas stations, grocery stores and other common locations — to steal money via transactions that are difficult for law enforcement to trace.

Nationwide, fraud losses through cryptocurrency ATMs jumped nearly tenfold from 2020 to 2023 and surpassed $65 million in the first half of last year, Federal Trade Commission data shows. Officials note that actual numbers are likely far higher because cases of fraud frequently go unreported. Also, people age 60-plus were more than three times as likely as younger adults to report a loss using one of the machines, according to the FTC.

AARP North Dakota is supporting a bill that would regulate crypto kiosks by requiring a daily transaction limit of $2,000 per customer, a written warning about the potential for fraud, a notice of who to contact to report suspected fraud and transaction receipts.

If there is a transaction limit, someone may hesitate, says Janelle Moos, AARP North Dakota’s director of advocacy.

“You might start to think ... maybe this isn’t right, why would I keep going to another kiosk and put more money into it?” Moos says. “It’s going to be a red flag.”

AARP has supported legislation to regulate crypto ATMs in other states. Vermont set a $1,000 daily cash transaction limit, while Minnesota capped daily transactions at $2,000 for new customers.

Also this year to help North Dakotans protect themselves from fraud, AARP will hold shredding events in West Fargo and Bismarck on Saturday, April 26. People can safely dispose of sensitive documents — such as bank statements — to help protect against identity theft.

It will also host “lunch and learn” events about fraud prevention in May, September and October. Grossman will speak at events on May 14 and 21.

Scammers will often claim, among other lies, that you are in trouble with the IRS, Social Security or law enforcement and try to sever you from all the people you trust, Grossman says. They warn you not to call family members, banks or law enforcement. But the more people you tell, the better the chance of avoiding a loss, he says.

Grossman cautioned that while few victims get their money back, reporting may help stop future crimes.

For details about fraud prevention events around the state, go to aarp.org/NDFraudFest.