Brookline Police Warning Residents Against Cryptocurrency Scam

BROOKLINE, MA — The police department is warning residents about a growing scam involving Bitcoin kiosks that is increasingly targeting seniors.

The kiosks, commonly found at gas stations, convenience stores, and shopping plazas throughout Brookline and the surrounding area, allow users to convert cash into cryptocurrency. Scammers are exploiting the machines by convincing victims they owe money for a fine, fee, or other urgent payment and directing them to deposit cash into a Bitcoin kiosk.

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Once the money is converted to cryptocurrency and sent, the funds are almost always unrecoverable.

According to the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, more than 80 percent of customers who spent $10,000 or more at a Bitcoin Depot kiosk between August 2023 and January 2025 did so in connection with scam activity. Nearly 60 percent of Bitcoin Depot's Massachusetts-based revenue during that period came from those transactions.

Officials are urging Brookline residents to be cautious of unsolicited calls, emails, or messages demanding immediate payment, especially when payment is requested through cryptocurrency. Community members are also encouraged to talk with older family members about the scam, as seniors are frequently targeted.

Anyone who receives a suspicious payment demand should stop communication and verify the request through a trusted source before sending money.

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