Financial & Cryptocurrency Scams

Ordinance #10051 officially takes effect on Wednesday, December 24.

The ordinance passed by the Grand Island City Council and was signed by Mayor Roger Steele on November 4, 2025. It amends and re-titles Chapter 25 of Grand Island city code and also adds a new section called Article III "Cryptocurrency Machines." The move is to regulate required signage near certain machines and to create such sections as necessary to effectuate the purposes of Ordinance #10051.

The ordinance requires posted written warning in the form of a sign that is provided by Grand Island Police Department. This sign must be placed on or adjacent to the kiosk, cryptocurrency ATM or BTMs. Non-compliance from local businesses results in a $500 daily fine.

As cryptocurrency kiosks become increasingly more accessible in Nebraska and Grand Island, this ordinance is designed to create mandatory, proactive measures to protect our citizens from the growing threat of fraud associated with these machines.

One way to mitigate these crimes is to require clear, visible and standardized fraud prevention signs (including contact information for the kiosks operation and contact information to report fraud to law enforcement) on all machines operating within the city limits of Grand Island, and failure to post deemed a crime and fines imposed for non-compliance.

This ordinance complements state legislation (LB609) and empowers local control to our community to take meaningful and immediate action against fraud.

Need for the Ordinance

"Victims describe these scams as being in a trance. They accept the reality presented to them without question. One foot in front of the other: bank account, paper bag, ATM."
~ Josh Planos, BBB

"We believe strong consumer protections against fraud are needed as cryptocurrency used as payment for scams is a fast-growing problem. The impact of fraud on victims and their families is wide reaching and can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially for older adults."
~ Jina Ragland, AARP

Crypto Scam

Crypto Scam Warning

Crypto Scam Spanish

Grand Island City Code

November 4, 2025 // Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele signed ordinance to prevent older adults from becoming victims of cryptocurrency fraud.

December 19, 2025 // GIPD, AARP team up for distribution of warning stickers on crypto ATMs across the community

December 24, 2025 // Ordinance officially goes into effect

Crypto Scam Statistics

October 1, 2024 - September 30, 2025

  • Total Crypto Loss - $307,390.69

  • Average Victim Age - 52.63

  • ~42% of scam victims report it (Pew Research Center)

  • 25 reported scams

Helpful Resources