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Protecting South Carolinians From Cryptocurrency ATM Scams: Highlights From Our Statehouse Press Conference

Lawmakers, law enforcement, state leaders and AARP volunteers come together to call for stronger protections around cryptocurrency kiosks

James Agens,

AARP South Carolina

Published March 06, 2026

Photo of AARP SC Executive Council members standing at the press conference holding signs.

James Agens, ASD Communications AARP SC State Office

The first-floor lobby of the South Carolina Statehouse was filled this morning as lawmakers, law enforcement, state agency leaders, advocates and AARP volunteers gathered to confront a growing threat to older residents: scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks.

Hosted by AARP South Carolina, the Consumer Protection Press Conference focused on one clear message: Criminals are using cryptocurrency kiosks in gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores to steal from South Carolinians, and it is time for stronger protections.

“If it feels off, it probably is”: Law enforcement sends a clear warning

A highlight of the event came from a representative of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), who addressed one of the most common scam tactics: criminals pretending to be police.

“If someone calls you asking for money and claiming to be police, we are not in the business of making money. If it feels off, it probably is.”

That simple message drew nods from the crowd and summed up what law enforcement is seeing across the state. Scammers create fear and urgency, then direct victims to withdraw cash and feed it into a cryptocurrency kiosk using a QR code. Once the money is converted to cryptocurrency and sent, it is extremely difficult to get back.

Representatives from SLED, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Sheriff Leon Lott from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department shared how often these cases now appear in their investigations and how frequently older adults are targeted.

Jan’s story: A romance, a scam and a lesson for all of us

AARP volunteer Jan Wuorenma brought the issue to life with a powerful personal story.

Jan introduced herself the way many people in the audience might describe themselves:

Photo of Jan Wuorenma (pronounced VORE-en-mah), an AARP Volunteer who is talking about her experience being scammed.

James Agens, ASD Communications AARP SC State Office

“My name is Jan Wuorenma. Like all of you, I am just a normal person. I’m a retired nurse with a graduate degree in business, a mom of three, a grandmother to six and a woman who lost her husband to cancer.”

After losing her husband of nearly 30 years, Jan felt lonely and decided to try online dating. On a well-known dating site, she connected with a man calling himself “Chris,” who claimed to be a successful contractor working on an oil rig in the North Sea. He quickly moved their conversations to an encrypted app, said he was in love and began asking for money to solve supposed “customs issues” and business problems.

He coached Jan on how to send funds through wire transfers and then through bitcoin, using cryptocurrency in ways she had never used before. Over time, his story unraveled. With the help of her family, Jan discovered that the photos he used belonged to someone else. When she confronted him and involved local police, she was able to recover most of the wired money, but the bitcoin was gone for good.

Jan later learned directly from him, on a video call, that he was a scammer.

Looking back, she can see the red flags: an unbelievable personal backstory, refusal to video chat, pressure to move off the dating platform, requests for secrecy, and instructions to use bitcoin and cryptocurrency to send money.

Jan shared an important reminder:

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“People believe that their intelligence and education will prevent them from falling for this kind of scam, but really smart and savvy people who are lonely and very sad are just as vulnerable as anyone.”

She closed her remarks with practical advice that she hopes every South Carolinian will take to heart:

Never give money to someone you have never met in person.
- “There is absolutely no reason to use a bitcoin machine found in many grocery stores and gas stations here in South Carolina to send money to someone you’ve never met.”
Tell your family and friends about your relationships.
- Scammers try to isolate their victims. “Listen to your family’s concerns. They love you. The scammer doesn’t, despite what he or she says.”
If you are scammed, tell the police right away.
- Timing matters. Reporting immediately can make the difference between recovering money and losing it forever.
Trust your gut.
- “If it feels ‘off,’ it is ‘off.’”

Jan’s courage in sharing her experience reminded everyone that no one should feel ashamed for being targeted. Talking openly about scams is one of the best ways to prevent them.

Lawmakers, experts and advocates standing together

The program featured a strong lineup of leaders working on this issue from different angles:

Lorraine Simmons, AARP Executive Council Member and Lead Fraud Volunteer, welcomed attendees and framed the day’s message: AARP is fighting to protect South Carolinians 50-plus from new forms of fraud that misuse modern technology.
Rep. Bill Herbkersman (R–District 118) and Rep. Brandon Guffey (R–District 48) discussed how cryptocurrency scams are affecting their constituents and outlined their support for H.4592, the “Vending of Digital Assets” bill that would require kiosk operators to be licensed, post clear fraud warnings, disclose fees and risks in plain language and provide better records for law enforcement.
Carri Grube-Lybarker, Administrator and Consumer Advocate with the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, explained how these scams fit into broader trends in online fraud and why consistent rules for cryptocurrency kiosks are needed across the state.
Herb Jacobs, AARP South Carolina Executive Council Member, shared how he uses cryptocurrency responsibly and why clear safeguards benefit both consumers and legitimate users.
Paul Greenwood, AARP consultant and retired district attorney, closed with a call to action, urging lawmakers to move forward with legislation and encouraging families to talk often about scams and how to spot them.

Together, they sent a unified message: South Carolinians should not have to navigate this alone, and basic protections around cryptocurrency kiosks are both reasonable and urgently needed.

What this means for South Carolinians 50-plus

A few key takeaways from the press conference:

Cryptocurrency kiosks are already in many South Carolina communities, often in places where older adults shop and run errands.
Scammers are actively directing victims to these machines and coaching them to send large sums of money that are very difficult to recover.
Older adults, especially those who are grieving, lonely or socially isolated, can be at higher risk, even if they are highly educated and financially savvy.

AARP South Carolina will continue to advocate for stronger consumer protections, including legislation that puts clear warnings, transaction limits and refund rights in place so that these machines are harder for criminals to misuse.

Image of South Carolina's Department of Consumer Affairs, Carri Grube-Lybarker, Administrator and Consumer Advocate, South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs

James Agens, ASD Communications AARP SC State Office

How you can stay safe and get involved

To protect yourself and loved ones:

Be very wary of anyone who asks you to pay with cryptocurrency, especially through a kiosk or ATM.
Hang up on anyone who claims to be law enforcement and demands money. Real police “are not in the business of making money.”
Talk with family and friends about new relationships and financial requests, especially if they involve online contacts.
If you think you have been targeted or scammed, report it quickly to local law enforcement, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and the FBI at ic3.gov.

To stay connected with AARP South Carolina’s advocacy and fraud prevention work:

Sign up for AARP South Carolina advocacy and fraud alerts at https://www.aarp.org/states/south-carolina/fraud-prevention/.
Visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatch for the latest scam alerts and prevention tips.
Share this story with others so more South Carolinians know how to spot and avoid cryptocurrency ATM scams.

Together, we can reduce the harm caused by these crimes and help people choose how they live as they age, with greater confidence and security.