San Diego is set to become the first city in California to require anti-fraud warning signs on cryptocurrency ATMs. The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday, October 20, to approve the measure, introduced by Council President Joe LaCava. The ordinance still needs a second council vote and the mayor’s signature, and if it clears those steps, it would take effect January 1, 2027.
The city estimates there are more than 110 cryptocurrency ATMs scattered across San Diego, many of them tucked inside grocery stores, gas stations, and corner markets in neighborhoods from Central San Diego out to North County. These kiosks let customers feed in cash and walk away with digital currency in minutes, a convenience that has also made them a favorite tool for scammers, who often pressure victims over the phone into “paying” fake fees, fines, or debts at the nearest machine.
The push for warning signs comes amid a sharp rise in crypto-related fraud. A 2025 FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center report found more than $390 million in cryptocurrency scam losses across California, and the County of San Diego’s Elder Justice Task Force has tied roughly $140 million in local scam losses to seniors specifically. Council President LaCava called the signage requirement “a simple solution” that can intercept a scam before money changes hands. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl echoed that point, noting that scam tactics evolve quickly and that “the best time to stop a scam is before it starts.” Gwenmarie Hilleary, who chairs the city’s Senior Affairs Advisory Board, said the warnings can turn a potential victim into someone who recognizes the red flags and helps stop a scam in progress.
For the small businesses that host these machines, usually as a side arrangement with a third-party ATM operator, the new rule means posting a clearly visible warning sign once the ordinance is finalized. LaCava’s office says it plans a community “Day of Action” around the effective date to help kiosk owners and operators get the required signage and educational materials in place. Business owners who lease counter space to a crypto ATM operator may want to start that conversation now, rather than scrambling to comply once the January 1 deadline is locked in.
Source: Times of San Diego
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