My dad lost $20k in a scam involving a Bitcoin ATM. He scanned a QR code the scammer sent him and completed the transaction. I know the money is gone, and we’re working on putting safeguards in place for the future. But I have one question: why did the scammer insist on getting the receipts from the transactions? My dad didn’t send them the receipts, so I’m curious—what’s the point? We’ve reported this to the local sheriff, but who else should we notify? This happened in Georgia.
Edit: The scammer claimed to work for Apple and even pretended to transfer my dad to an FTC official. They guided him step by step—going to the bank, withdrawing the cash, and then using the Bitcoin ATM to scan the QR code and make the transfer in several installments. My dad was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment/dementia about a year ago, and we’ve been noticing changes in his decision-making for a while now. It’s heartbreaking but not entirely unexpected.
I also found out that the scammer called him 18 times asking for those receipts. I think many of you are right—maybe they needed proof to show their boss or to manage the transfer using third-party services. I feel so angry at the person who did this, but at the same time, I pity them—maybe they’re just another worker stuck in a terrible system. Still, it’s incredibly frustrating to deal with all of this.
Hey, just a heads up to anyone new here—be careful of private messages from people claiming they can help you recover your money. These are often scams too. If someone is legit, they’ll give advice in the public thread where others can weigh in. Avoid giving personal details and stick to discussing things openly here.
Bitcoin ATM receipts often have important details like private keys or wallet info. If your dad didn’t send the receipt, there’s a small chance the money is still tied to the receipt itself. However, if the scammers provided a wallet for him to deposit into, the money is likely already gone. It’s still worth double-checking the receipt if you have it.
Exactly. The scammers probably wanted to make sure your dad didn’t accidentally hit the ‘Create a New Wallet’ option instead of sending it to their wallet. They were just covering their tracks to ensure everything went smoothly for them.
They always ask for screenshots or receipts because they don’t have direct access to the systems their victims use. Scammers need to prove to their bosses that they successfully got the money, and these receipts serve as evidence. If someone is asking for a financial screenshot, that’s a major red flag.
The person who scammed your dad probably works for someone else. They collect proof, like receipts, to show their employer they’re hitting their targets. The money doesn’t go directly to the person your dad talked to—it’s all part of a larger system.
They might ask for receipts to make everything seem more legitimate or because they need to report back to someone else in their scam chain. Either way, the money’s likely already gone.
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what story they used. Bitcoin ATMs are a huge red flag—no legitimate business uses them for payments. That alone should’ve been enough to stop him.
Here’s an idea—tell the scammer you lost the receipt and need to redo the transaction. Then reverse things and send the money back to your dad. It’s a long shot but might be worth trying.
Scams like this often involve multiple people. The receipt might help the scammer transfer the money, prove they did their job, or keep records for their operation. It’s a shady system, but that’s how they work.