FBI Warns Courier Cash Pickups Are Driving Crypto Scams

The FBI warns that cryptocurrency investment scammers are adapting to bank controls by using in-person cash couriers to collect victims' funds after establishing trust via social media or romance scams; once cash is handed over (often authenticated by a serial number or password), scammers show fake account deposits and then coerce victims into paying more fraudulent fees. The PSA cites large-scale impacts (nearly 73,000 investment fraud cases and $8.6B in losses reported) and provides actionable safety tips such as protecting personal and banking information, avoiding unsolicited contacts, and verifying platforms before investing.