Lincoln's New Move to Fight Crypto Scams

In Lincoln, a new rule is being put in place to help people avoid falling for crypto scams. By December 24, businesses with crypto ATMs must put up a warning sticker. This sticker is a big red flag for anyone who might be tricked into putting money into these machines. The warning is clear: if someone tells you to put money into a crypto ATM, it could be a scam. Scammers often use fear, secrecy, and urgency to trick people into sending cryptocurrency. The sticker tells people to contact the Lincoln Police Department (LPD) if they think they're being scammed. This new rule comes after Lincoln residents lost over $11 million in crypto scams in 2025. The City Council approved the rule on November 17, and the mayor signed it on November 24.Erika Thomas, a spokesperson for LPD, encourages business owners to keep an eye out for suspicious activity. She says if you see someone, especially an elderly person, looking confused and talking on the phone near a crypto ATM, they might be in the middle of a scam. The city's website has tips on how to avoid these scams. There's even an acronym to help remember what to do: S. C. A. M. stands for Stop, Check, Avoid, and Make a report. LPD is also adding a crypto investigator to its team in January. This person will help with technical investigations related to crypto scams. AARP Nebraska is working with the Grand Island Police Department to put similar warning stickers in Grand Island. These stickers will be in both English and Spanish.