According to Deep TechFlow news on June 18, the Spokane City Council in Washington State, USA, has unanimously passed an ordinance banning all virtual currency self-service terminals, including cryptocurrency ATMs. The ban affects approximately 50 cryptocurrency self-service terminals in the city, and operators must remove the devices within 60 days or face civil penalties and possible revocation of their business licenses.
City Council member Paul Dillon stated that this move is aimed at "protecting vulnerable residents of Spokane" from scams involving these terminals, which have become "the preferred tool for scammers to deceive unsuspecting victims." Spokane Police Detective Tim Schwering reported that he receives daily reports from residents who have lost thousands of dollars due to scams related to self-service terminals, and at least three suicide incidents in Spokane County are related to these scams.
