Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Consumer Protection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Danvers police back bylaw to prohibit virtual currency kiosks after fraud investigations
Summary
Police Chief Lovell told the Select Board that multiple fraud investigations involving virtual currency kiosks prompted a proposed bylaw to require kiosk removal within 30 days of Attorney General approval; the board moved the bylaw forward 5-0 for Finance Committee review.
Police Chief Lovell presented Article 32 at the April 9 Danvers Select Board meeting, proposing a bylaw to prohibit virtual currency kiosks in town. Chief Lovell said the department has investigated multiple fraud cases involving these machines since 2022, that only limited recovery of funds was achieved in those cases, and that two kiosks remain in operation in Danvers.
Under the proposed bylaw the kiosks would need to be removed within 30 days of Attorney General approval. Chief Lovell acknowledged that some kiosks may have legitimate uses but said the machines are increasingly exploited for scams that target vulnerable residents. The board voted 5-0 (motion by Select Board Member Gardner S. Trask III; second by Select Board Member Michael Bean) to move the article with a favorable recommendation to the Finance Committee.
Next steps: The bylaw will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and, if advanced, would be subject to the Attorney General approval timeline specified in the proposal. The transcript does not provide the bylaw text nor an implementation schedule beyond the 30-day removal period tied to Attorney General approval.
