On Thursday, September 17, 2026, Times of San Diego reported that San Diego is moving to require warning signs on cryptocurrency ATMs across the city, a step officials say could make it the first California city to adopt such a measure.
The proposal, introduced by San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava, targets scams that scammers carry out through cryptocurrency ATMs, which are frequently found in grocery stores, convenience stores, and smoke shops. Officials say the schemes disproportionately affect senior citizens, who are persuaded by scammers to deposit cash into the machines. Once the funds are converted and transferred, authorities say the money is nearly impossible to recover.
A council committee unanimously approved the ordinance on Wednesday. If enacted, it would require operators of cryptocurrency ATMs to post signs warning customers about common scam tactics and directing them to a city website containing fraud-prevention information and reporting resources.
Speaking at a news conference, LaCava said the goal is to intervene before victims lose money. “Stopping scams before they take place is critical,” he said, adding that losses from these schemes can leave victims unable to afford food, rent or medication.
According to state data cited by LaCava, 111 cryptocurrency ATMs are currently operating at 75 locations throughout San Diego. Nearly half of those machines — 55 — are concentrated at 24 Safeway and Albertsons stores, which operate under the same parent company.
Officials acknowledged, however, that the state’s tracking data may undercount the actual number of machines in the city. A Times of San Diego check of one listed location in the College Area found no machine present, while a separate search turned up additional cryptocurrency ATMs not included in the state dataset.
The measure drew support from AARP California and the city’s Senior Affairs Advisory Board, whose representatives appeared alongside LaCava before the committee vote.
Gwenmarie Hilleary, chair of the Senior Affairs Advisory Board, described the moment before a victim uses a cryptocurrency machine as a critical window for intervention. She said scammers typically spend days or weeks building trust with victims — often by posing as bank representatives or claiming the victim has won a prize — before directing them to a machine. A visible warning sign at that point, she said, could give victims a chance to pause before completing a transaction.
Israel Hernandez, associate state director for advocacy and community engagement at AARP California, said the final moments before a transaction are key because victims have often already been deceived by the time they reach a kiosk. He cited national data showing adults 60 and older accounted for roughly two-thirds of the $389 million reported lost to cryptocurrency ATM scams last year, amounting to about $259 million in losses among older victims.
LaCava said the initiative draws on a similar program implemented in Omaha, Nebraska, where local officials and AARP reported a notable decline in scam-related losses following the introduction of warning signs and public education efforts.
The ordinance is expected to move forward for further consideration following the committee’s approval.
Source: Times of San Diego
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