A family in East Texas has been reunited with their stolen funds thanks to the rapid response of Jasper County deputies who tracked and recovered nearly $32,000 from a Bitcoin ATM following a sophisticated scam. The case unfolded earlier this week after the family reported being coerced into transferring $25,000 to scammers posing as a government entity.
The fraudulent payment was made at a Bitcoin Depot kiosk inside Sunshine Grocery in Hardin County, setting off a multi-agency investigation that led to the swift recovery of the funds. Authorities say the scammers convinced the victims they owed fees that needed to be paid immediately via cryptocurrency, a tactic increasingly used in financial fraud.
The Bitcoin machine became the scene of the crime.
According to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the incident began when the victims received a call from someone claiming to represent a government agency. Under pressure and believing the demands were legitimate, they followed instructions to deposit $25,000 into a Bitcoin account using the kiosk in Hardin County.
Recognising the signs of a scam, the family reported the incident, prompting a rapid response from law enforcement. Chief Deputy Larry Pulliam, Jr., along with Deputy Grey and Investigator David Lampman, obtained a search warrant to inspect the kiosk.
With support from the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, deputies physically cut the locks on the Bitcoin Depot machine and recovered $31,900 funds believed to include not only the family’s stolen money but possibly proceeds from other scams as well.
Sheriff Vows to Protect Citizens from Tech-Driven Fraud
The seizure represents a growing trend in fraud cases involving cryptocurrency, which offers anonymity and speed features that criminals increasingly exploit. Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard emphasised his office’s commitment to pursuing scam operations, especially those targeting vulnerable residents.
“When thieves, lowlifes, and scammers attempt to take advantage of the citizens of Jasper County, we will work swiftly and utilise every resource at our disposal to protect our citizens and their property at all costs,” Havard told 12 News Now.
The seized funds have been secured by Jasper County pending a seizure hearing, while investigators continue to pursue leads in the ongoing case. Authorities have not released further details about potential suspects, but the recovery has been welcomed as a significant win against scam operations that often go undetected or unpunished.
Warning Signs and Public Awareness
Sheriff Havard also used the opportunity to urge residents to be vigilant. Government agencies do not demand payments in cryptocurrency, and any request for funds via digital kiosks should be treated as a red flag.
This scam follows a familiar pattern seen across the country, in which fraudsters impersonate law enforcement, tax agencies, or utility companies, pressuring victims to act quickly under the threat of fines or legal action. By the time victims realise they’ve been scammed, funds transferred via cryptocurrency are often untraceable.
In this case, however, the swift response by Jasper County deputies made all the difference. The physical nature of the kiosk provided a rare opportunity to retrieve the stolen funds, something rarely possible in the world of digital scams.
Crypto Crime on the Rise
As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to grow, so too does their use in criminal schemes. Scammers are increasingly turning to crypto ATMs as vehicles for laundering money or extracting funds from unsuspecting victims. These machines, typically placed in convenience stores or gas stations, offer easy access but little oversight.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are ramping up efforts to regulate and monitor such machines, and this latest recovery in Texas may serve as a wake-up call for both authorities and the public.
A Win, But a Warning Too
While the $31,900 recovery is a rare success story in the fight against digital fraud, Sheriff Havard reminded citizens that prevention remains the best defence. “It’s essential that people double-check any demand for payment, especially those requesting cryptocurrency. Verify, question, and never be afraid to hang up and call back,” he said.
With the investigation still underway, officials hope the case serves as both a cautionary tale and a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement response in the face of increasingly sophisticated scams.
