Spokane, Washington bans Bitcoin ATMs in response to surge in cryptocurrency scams

 June 18, according to Decrypt, the Spokane City Council in Washington state, USA, unanimously passed an ordinance banning all virtual currency self-service terminals, including cryptocurrency ATMs. The ban affects about 50 cryptocurrency self-service terminals in the city, and operators must remove the devices within 60 days, otherwise they will face civil penalties and possible revocation of their business licenses.Councilman Paul Dillon said the move aims to "protect vulnerable residents of Spokane" from scams involving these terminals, which have become the "preferred tool for scammers to deceive unsuspecting victims." Spokane Police Department detective Tim Schwering said he receives reports every day of residents losing thousands of dollars due to scams related to self-service terminals, and at least three suicides in Spokane County are related to these scams.