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Mainers Urged to Apply for Refunds Following Bitcoin Scam Settlement

We encourage anyone who believes they may have been affected to review the information and submit an application as soon as possible

AARP

Published March 24, 2026

Rainbow cryptocurrency exchange terminal graphic

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AARP Maine and the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (“Bureau”) are urging Mainers who lost money to Bitcoin‑related scams to apply for a refund before the April 1 deadline.

Following a two‑year investigation into Bitcoin kiosk activity across the state, the Bureau, with assistance from the Maine Attorney General’s Office, reached an agreement for a Bitcoin kiosk operator to pay $1.9 million to reimburse eligible Maine consumers who experienced fraud at select Bitcoin kiosks.

“Scammers often pressure people to act quickly and secretly, and Bitcoin kiosks have become a common tool in these schemes,” said Jane Margesson, Senior Communications Director with AARP Maine. “If you or someone you know lost money because of a bitcoin scam, this settlement may provide a rare opportunity to recover those losses—but the deadline to apply is coming up fast.”

Edward Myslik, Principal Consumer Credit Examiner with the Bureau, emphasized the importance of acting now. “Mainers who were victimized by these scams should not assume they are ineligible,” Myslik said. “We encourage anyone who believes they may have been affected to review the information and submit an application as soon as possible.”

The April 1 deadline is quickly approaching, and eligible consumers may be able to receive a refund from the $1.9 million settlement fund.

Mainers can learn more about eligibility and apply online through the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection at: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/consumercredit/enforcement/bitcoindepot.html

Consumers with questions about the Bitcoin settlement are encouraged to contact the Bureau at 1-800-332-8529 or (207) 624-8527.

For more information about scam prevention and for additional resources, Mainers can contact the AARP Fraud Watch Network victim helpline at 1-877-908-3360.