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AARP South Carolina and Law Enforcement Team Up to Stop Cryptocurrency Kiosk Scams

Training in Columbia and support for bill H4592 highlight a growing effort to protect South Carolinians — especially people 50 and over — from fast-moving crypto fraud.

James Agens,

AARP South Carolina

Published March 09, 2026

a presenter at the Crypto Currency Kiosk Law Enforcement Training

AARP South Carolina

When scammers look for new ways to steal money, they follow the technology. Right now, that means a growing number are using cryptocurrency kiosks — often located in grocery stores, gas stations and neighborhood shops — to pressure people into sending money that is almost impossible to get back.

This week in Columbia, AARP South Carolina brought together law enforcement agencies from across the Palmetto State for a special training focused on common scams and the rise of cryptocurrency kiosk fraud. The session is part of our broader work as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to empowering people to choose how they live as they age.

Training law enforcement to spot — and stop — crypto scams

At the Columbia training, representatives from the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, fraud investigators and local sheriffs’ offices walked through the latest scam tactics they’re seeing on the ground.

One workshop highlighted a simple but powerful tool: warning signs that can be posted right next to cryptocurrency kiosks. The flyer asks questions such as:

Has someone told you the only way to protect your money is to deposit cash into a cryptocurrency ATM?
Has anyone asked you to keep the reason for your cryptocurrency purchase secret or to lie to your bank?
Is an online “romantic” interest asking you to send them cryptocurrency bought at an ATM?
Has a caller claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement demanded cryptocurrency to pay a fine, clear a warrant or post bond for a loved one?

If any of those scenarios sound familiar, it’s a big red flag that you may be in the middle of a scam.

The flyer also reminds people why scammers like cryptocurrency: Transactions are quick, largely irreversible and hard to trace — which means once your money is gone, it’s very difficult to recover.

By equipping law enforcement with tools like these, we’re helping them intervene sooner, talk with potential victims at the kiosk and connect people to resources before they lose their hard-earned savings.

Standing with consumer-protection leaders at the State House

Education alone isn’t enough. South Carolina also needs strong, up-to-date consumer protections that reflect how scams actually happen today.

On March 4, 2026, AARP South Carolina joined the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for a press conference in Columbia supporting bill H4592 — legislation designed to help prevent cryptocurrency kiosk fraud and strengthen safeguards for consumers.

By standing alongside these leaders, we’re sending a clear, nonpartisan message: protecting South Carolinians from fraud is a shared responsibility. We are urging lawmakers to put commonsense protections in place around cryptocurrency kiosks so that scammers have fewer chances to exploit people, especially older adults who may be targeted because of their life savings or retirement income.

How AARP South Carolina is fighting cryptocurrency scams

Our work around bill H4592 and the Columbia training are part of a larger, statewide effort to:

Advocate for strong consumer protections. We’re working with legislators to support measures that increase transparency and accountability around cryptocurrency kiosks and other payment technologies.
Partner with law enforcement. From local sheriffs’ offices to federal agencies, we are collaborating on trainings, public events and resources that help officers better understand and investigate crypto-related scams.
Engage community and faith leaders. Scam prevention works best when messages show up where people live, worship and gather. We’re sharing materials like the kiosk flyer with trusted messengers so they can help neighbors spot trouble early.

Know the signs — and what to do if you’re targeted

If you’re at a cryptocurrency kiosk and anyone is:

Rushing you to send money,
Telling you to keep the transaction secret,
Asking you to pay a bill, fee, warrant, fine or bond with cryptocurrency, or
Promising guaranteed or unusually high returns on a crypto “investment,”

stop immediately. These are classic scam tactics.

If you think you or someone you love has been caught in a cryptocurrency kiosk scam:

Contact local law enforcement right away.
Report the scam to the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs.
If a federal agency name was used in the scam, notify the appropriate agency, such as the U.S. Secret Service Greenville Resident Office, which provides support in cases involving cryptocurrency fraud.

You can also connect with the AARP Fraud Watch Network to find up-to-date scam alerts, practical tips and free support. Our mission is to help people 50 and over safeguard their money and their peace of mind.

Moving forward, together

Stopping cryptocurrency kiosk scams will take continued cooperation — from the General Assembly, law enforcement, community leaders, businesses and advocates across the state. AARP South Carolina will keep working with our partners to:

Push for strong, sensible protections like those in bill H4592
Equip law enforcement and community leaders with clear, easy-to-use scam-warning tools
Make sure people 50-plus and their families know the red flags to watch for and where to turn for help

Scammers are constantly changing their playbook. Together, we can stay one step ahead and help South Carolinians keep more of the money they’ve worked so hard to earn.