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Sharon police urge ban on cryptocurrency kiosks after reporting more than 50 fraud cases
Summary
Detective Lucie told the Finance Committee that Sharon PD investigated over 50 kiosk-related frauds in the past year and recommended a warrant article to ban cryptocurrency kiosks; committee members and residents expressed support and draft language from other towns was provided.
Detective Lucie of the Sharon Police Department asked the Finance Committee on Feb. 23 to support a warrant article prohibiting cryptocurrency kiosks in town, saying Sharon currently has kiosks at Costco and Shaw’s and police have investigated more than 50 kiosk-related fraud cases in the past year.
Lucie described common scam patterns in which victims are directed to deposit cash into kiosks that convert the funds into cryptocurrency and move them through multiple digital wallets, making recovery difficult or impossible once funds enter certain exchanges. He said kiosk operators often display warning language that limits liability and that kiosk-hosting retailers receive rental payments similar to ATM arrangements.
Lucie said three Massachusetts communities — Waltham, Gloucester and Leominster — have already adopted local bans and that he supplied draft language from those towns to the Town Administrator’s office. Committee members, including Vice Chair Anja Bernier, expressed support for the proposed ban, with Bernier saying regulated platforms exist for cryptocurrency investors and a local bylaw could better protect vulnerable residents.
A resident, Ms. Crosby, described a family member’s experience of losing funds and expressed support for the bylaw. Committee members agreed a bylaw can be amended later if circumstances change; Detective Lucie said state-level reforms are under discussion but could take years.
