Wichita-area residents lose more than $100,000 every month to financial scams, Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said at a news conference Sept. 9 at the Sedgwick County Courthouse.

Bennett and other law enforcement officials urged residents to be wary of online transactions and phone solicitations, highlighting cryptocurrency ATMs as a growing tool for fraud. Wichita has nearly 70 crypto ATMs, the Wichita Eagle reported, citing the Wichita Police Department.

"Not a month goes by that I don't see a six-figure loss," Bennett said. He described the money as coming from transactions that appeared legitimate but were not.

Officials pointed to a recent case in which a senior citizen received a phone call claiming she had an outstanding warrant. The caller told her she could avoid arrest by making a cryptocurrency payment at a crypto ATM. Wichita Police Sgt. Kelly Mar advised the woman to contact the ATM operator, report the scam and request a refund.

The operator initially offered a refund only in cryptocurrency. The woman had no way to access it. With help from the Wichita Police Department and the district attorney's office, the operator eventually agreed to mail her a check.

Officials said the recovery was possible because of House Bill 2591, the Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act. Gov. Laura Kelly signed the bill in April, and its kiosk-specific provisions took effect July 1. The law requires crypto ATM operators to display fraud warnings before each transaction, provide live customer service during operating hours and issue refunds within 10 business days of a request. It also allows financial institutions to place a temporary hold on suspicious transactions for up to 10 business days. Without the new law, officials said, the woman likely would not have recovered her money.

Kristin Zluticky of the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Consumer Protection Division said reporting scams quickly gives victims the best chance of recovering money. Her advice on crypto ATMs was blunt: avoid them entirely.

Bennett said scam victims are not limited to seniors. People of any age and background can be targeted. He stressed that no legitimate government agency will ever ask for payment in cryptocurrency.

The district attorney's office encouraged residents to talk with older family members and neighbors about common scams. Warning signs include a loved one being secretive about phone calls, withdrawing unusual amounts of cash or asking about cryptocurrency ATMs.

Anyone who believes they have been scammed can contact the Wichita Police Department or the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office at 316-660-3600 or [email protected].