By Tom Hintgen

Otter Tail County Correspondent

Sheriff deputies, on Sept. 17, said a resident of Otter Tail County lost $1,800 as the result of a Bitcoin scam. Authorities say that Bitcoin ATM scams are on the rise and are costing people millions of dollars.

“These machines, also known as BTMs, have been popping up at convenience stores, gas stations and other locations. They are used to buy and send cryptocurrency, but scammers are using them to steal your money,” said one law enforcement representative.

Here are some rules to follow:

• Don’t believe anyone who says you need to use a Bitcoin ATM, buy gift cards or move  money to protect or fix a problem. Real business and government agencies never do that, and anyone who asks is a scammer.

• Some scammers will also try to convince you that these BTMs are “safety lockers” for your money. Don’t fall for it.

• People over the age of 60 are targeted in more than half of the reported scams. Take the time to talk to senior citizens who are part of your families and point out the warning signs.