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Volunteer Spotlight: Turning Concern into Action Against Crypto Kiosk Scams
When state legislation stalled, AARP volunteer Dan Maul helped Washington communities take local action to protect residents from devastating crypto kiosk scams.
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When Dan Maul started volunteering with AARP Fraud Watch Network™, he expected to help people spot scams and recover after a fraud event. He did not expect to become one of Washington’s movers and shakers in the fight against cryptocurrency kiosk scams. Over the past year, Dan has helped local communities understand the problem and take action to protect residents.
Dan is a former investment adviser who lives in Oak Harbor. Through his volunteer work, he often hears from people who have been targeted by scammers posing as government agencies, law enforcement, tech support, or banks. Many are told to deposit cash into cryptocurrency kiosks, also called crypto ATMs. Once the money is deposited, it is gone, with few options available to law enforcement to pursue a claim or recover the funds.
“I hear every week from people whose lives have been turned upside down by these scams,” Dan said in an AARP Washington news release. “In many cases, victims are losing tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes their entire savings, to criminals who use crypto kiosks because the money moves fast and is nearly impossible to trace or recover.”
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From Volunteer to Community Organizer
After statewide efforts to regulate cryptocurrency kiosks stalled in Olympia, Dan looked for another path. Instead of waiting for state action, he focused on local solutions and helped cities and counties understand how bans on crypto kiosks could protect residents from financial predators.
As part of AARP Washington’s Crypto Kiosk Work Group, Dan helped share research, policy updates, and background information with local leaders. His goal was simple: make the issue easier to understand and give communities the tools to act.
Building Momentum Across Washington
Dan has worked with AARP volunteers, staff, law enforcement leaders, fraud prevention advocates, and local officials to support crypto kiosk bans across Washington. After Spokane Detective Tim Schwering led successful kiosk bans in Spokane, Spokane Valley, Kennewick and Airway Heights, Dan took up the mantle and helped Anacortes, LaConner and Mt Vernon take action to remove crypto kiosks from their communities.
That momentum is now reaching Vancouver and Clark County, where leaders are considering similar proposals. Dan has been helping those communities learn from cities that have already acted and understand what steps they can take next.
He has also helped bring personal stories into the conversation. By encouraging scam survivors to speak with reporters and local officials, Dan helps show the real harm behind the numbers and why stronger protections matter.
“It’s easy to sit here and think, ‘Well, I’m smart enough. I won’t fall for these things.’ But I can assure you that there is a scam for everyone.”
Dan continues to support local efforts and help communities find the information they need to protect residents from crypto kiosk fraud. For him, the mission is simple: help people stay safe.
Because of his leadership and the work of many partners, more Washington residents may avoid losing money to a devastating scam. If you are interested in volunteer efforts to reduce crypto kiosk fraud in Washington State, please contact us at aarpwa@aarp.org.
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