New rules to prevent Cryptocurrency fraud
An ordinance to crack down on fraudulent crypto in Sterling Heights. There’s a new ordinance that’s now passed there because police say they’ve dealt with far too many cases of fraud.
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (FOX 2) –
An ordinance was made to crack down on fraudulent crypto in Sterling Heights. The new ordinance was passed because police say they’ve dealt with far too many cases of fraud.
Timeline:
Officials started keeping track of cases on January 1.
Police have investigated 23 fraud cases tied to the city’s 27 cryptocurrency machines, reporting losses that exceed $542,000. Alarmingly, seniors make up a significant portion of the victims. Even the FBI estimates the potential total losses could reach as high as $1 million, just within Sterling Heights.
In response, the Sterling Heights City Council introduced a new ordinance aimed at strengthening regulations surrounding virtual currency machines, including Bitcoin ATMs. This initiative was prompted by a sharp increase in crypto-related fraud incidents. Under the terms of this new ordinance, businesses must adhere to a series of requirements:
business and operator licensing, annual fees, ID verification for users, fraud warnings, transaction receipts, customer service hotlines, limits for first-time users, and routine inspections.
Dig deeper:
Existing operators have until March 31, 2026, to comply with these new regulations, which aim to combat various types of scams. One prevalent scheme identified is the “romance scam,” where scammers engage victims through text or social media, posing as potential partners in need of financial assistance via Bitcoin for travel.
Operators are also required to keep transaction and service records for a minimum of 90 days while ensuring the protection of personal data. This measure aims to enhance accountability and provide a trail for law enforcement investigations.
The city emphasizes the urgency of this initiative, particularly during the holiday season, a time when scams typically see a spike. To bolster these efforts, a new Police Department Crypto Task Force has been created specifically to tackle the growing problem of cryptocurrency fraud head-on.
