Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
How How what's the word I'm looking not predominant? How
what's the word that I'm looking for?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Common?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Yeah? Is that predominant? Why can't?
Speaker 4 (00:09):
Why does that word sound wrong coming out of my mouth?
Like a good word, whether it's common or popular. You
always seem to not like the word you're choosing. You
want a different word. But we don't know what you're
even talking about.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Athena bitcoin ATMs, Well, I have never heard of that, now.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
The no, No, you've heard of bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Right, I don't think I've ever seen one. Is Athena
a brand or type? A type of machine?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I know it is a brand? Well, well, a type
of machine would be a brand?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
No, I mean like, is it a way to describe, like,
this is what studio?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Is this?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Like?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Atlantis?
Speaker 5 (00:43):
Right?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Okay? No? This is that?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
That's the Oh my god, what a horrible what a
horrible example, Tyler, Jesus Christ it's the.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Elliott in the Morning studio, but internally they refer to
it as as.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Right, which is stupid. It's stupid. So that might be
known that any of the studios that are this time.
Now you are in the Atlantis fan.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I hearn't Christian, what is your studio called b P
P Production? Oh oh, there's not a name for it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Falcon.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh yeah, Falcon, Falcon stupid.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know what the company is called? Bankrupt?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh so I thought maybe you will describing a type
of machine.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
See, No, no, I think I think an Athena Bitcoin
ATM is a company.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
No, Oh, I see there's a couple of locations in Rockville.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
That's what I mean. How yeah the ATM location?
Speaker 6 (01:47):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yes, how predominant are Athena bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Like he said, there's three around here?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
No? No, but like if you scroll out that map,
there's a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
There are damn.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Look now their website is not loading right now, but
from the map that Google provided you can see there
are quite a few.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Are there are? There a lot in the actual district.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It looked like it on that initial mapping, right.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So they're getting sued. Hey, Kristen, will you do me
a favor? Will you do me a favor? By the way,
would if I, Diane, if I said, go walk up
to that Athena Bitcoin ATM, would you know how to
use it?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I don't? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 7 (02:35):
Wouldn't it be transferring? Money out of like is it
a bank account into your bitcoin account?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
It converts that way.
Speaker 7 (02:45):
It's not like I'm actually getting anything that looks resembling
a currency.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Would be putting money into your wallet.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
Right, yeah, into my bitcoin wallet? Yes, yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It says they're over forty one hundred.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
No way straight, no oh around the country.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yes, never heard of this brand?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Are they? There? Are they?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Is that the most common bitcoin ATM? An athena Bitcoin ATM?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Again, we're gonna have to look that up. It looks
like they're on a list. Now, they're on a list
with others, but they're one of the top us providers.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Okay, so they are. Am I going to line one
real quick? Hi yai in the morning.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Have you used one of the bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
No?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
I was actually called to tell you the word you're
looking for prominence.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
No, that doesn't sound right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I think that's right. Oh is it? Yeah? I think so?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Oh then yes, you're correct. Thank you, sir, Thank you,
thank you for helping me.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
You got it. Talk to you later. Yeah, I need
I need, thank you, sir, Christian.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Will you find me somebody who's used a bitcoin ATM?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I guess whether it's an Athena one or not.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It looks like there's a lot of them, like different kinds.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So anybody who's used a bitcoin atm please eight six
six to Elliott eight six six two three five five.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Four six eight. Here's the reason I ask.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So the Attorney General in DC, I don't know his name,
is suing Athena, accusing Athena of profiting from scams that
are over that are that are being used at an
overwhelming number.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
So they point out a person with scam using.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Athena Bitcoin machines in d C, where there are undisclosed
fees up to twenty six percent, helps Athena make a
crap ton of money, Okay, but they were saying like this,
one person lost eight thousand dollars. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
(05:08):
one hundred thousand dollars. They lost one hundred thousand dollars
old people. Right, For the most part, it's both like
they target old people and they just target whoever they target.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Finance scams, the guy said.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
The attorney general said gift cards were and still are
a popular way that scammers.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Get your money.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
This is right behind now, But how's Athena The scammer.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
They're not, but what they're what.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So the Attorney General is saying, Athena knows that they
are being used by scammers, and Athena knows that they
get twenty six percent of the exchange the the transaction,
So Athena is doing nothing to help people that are
getting scammed or to warn people.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
That they're getting scammed.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So they're saying Athena, they're essentially being sued for turning
a blind eye and doing nothing to help the consumer
side of it because they want the selfish, greedy, twenty
six percent side of it. I don't know if they
have a case or not.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's a rough one.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I don't know if they have a case.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now, are they required to do something in terms of
pop up warnings or something like that, Like are they
failing to operate legally, Because then there's a case it.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Says Athena knows this.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
According to the lawsuit, Athena knows its machines are being
used primarily by scammers, yet they choose to look the
other way so they can continue to pocket pocket.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Sizable hidden transaction fees.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
So I don't know if they're getting a little slap
for the hidden transaction fees or if they're getting a
slap for.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Just kind of being we know that we're being used
for bad tough titty.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So there are thirty thousand and plus crypto machines in
the US.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Is it weird and you've never used one of them?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Nope?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yes you will. No, yes you will. I don't trust
What if you get one of those text messages and
you're like, oh, I need to go deposit money.
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Well, I'm going to because they offered me a very
well paying position this morning, and I'll be replying later.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
But what would the fees be like if they're using
Athena because Athena wants these fees and they're not using
other companies, what are those fees like?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh, for the other companies, I don't know, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The other companies clearly have I mean they have fees also,
but do something that makes it not as easy to
scam these.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
That's a good question. I don't know the answer to that.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Like they said, in some of these transactions, the fees
are up to twenty six percent, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I don't know what the other ones are.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Is a lot?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I know, yes, Jesus, that's a tremendous amount of money,
a tremendous amount of money.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And of course in that moment, do you feel that urgency,
that pressure to get whatever it needs to be done?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Of course, of course, and they say that they prey
on it. They know it's urgent, it's untraceable, it's urgent
you and you just and again, I don't know how
it worked.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I've never used one. Hi, Ellie in the morning. Hey,
who's this the cayler for Richmond? Yes, sir, Bitcoin ATM.
So you use them?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Oh yeah, I've been using them for a while.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
You know they're more prominent, uh than I anticipated they
would big.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Yeah, they're in pretty much every every gas station. You know,
a lot of people don't notice them, but yeah, they're
in there. I used to use them because I would, uh,
gamble online and before you could convert bitcoin, you know
on Venmo apps and stuff, right, I'd have to take
a code, go to the ATM, then pull my money out. So,
for example, if bitcoin selling out one hundred and ten
(08:56):
thousand right now, they will buy it for like one
hundred and five that you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
No, I mean, I understand what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
But let me let me ask you this let's say
let's say I fall for the scam, right, I get
a text message and whatever.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
They need money, and they're like, and I understand.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
I understand why they would want me to go to
a bitcoin machine because it's not being traceable.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
And I understand that, right, So.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That I get So I show up my buddy, I
go to I go to.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Seven eleven or gas station, and I use the machine.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How do I give them money?
Speaker 5 (09:32):
So what the scammers will do is they'll send you
this long code it's a bitcoin address. And this actually
happened to my buddy's grandma. The FEDS got involved and
they actually got the money back out of the ken.
But yeah, they'll send you this long code and you'll
go to the ATM, press deposit, put the code in,
and it'll wire it to their bitcoin address.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Where where But where am I giving them my money from?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
You bring cash and the posit it into the ATM.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
So it's like during a cash deposit at.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
A bank exactly, yep. So it sits in that machine.
And when this happened to my buddy's grandma, they got
the cops, the FEDS and everybody involved, and they ended
up calling Athena or whoever it was, and they allowed
them to unlock it to get her money back.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now, and is the only way is the only way
to deposit the money in that ATM by inserting cash? Yeah, yep,
So why is it where it's said one of the
things that I was reading and listen, I'm glad that
for your for your buddy's mom or grandmam, it worked
(10:40):
out good that they were able to get the money
back because one of the things that I was reading
about in the scam or or I guess in the
lawsuit about the scam, is that once you, once you
deposit the money athena like, they won't give it back
to you.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Like they can only give back a certain percentage of
it if it's proof that there's a scam house.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
If it's proven. Yeah, yeah, but how long do I
have to wait?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I mean at that point, I'm just I may as
well just sit on my nuts.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah yeah, no. They it's like they know, but they
don't care because they're making so much other money and
they are used for the right things a lot of
the times.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
You know, Oh sure, what have I always said, find
me a good invention and I'll show you the people
that are using it for evil, but and and they are,
and you can maybe tell me that for the most part,
and I agree, for the most part, they probably are
being used for the right reasons. But why can you
answer Tyler's question? Why are why are scammers just using
(11:39):
Athena machines and not like coin flip machines.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
That's a good question. Probably they don't have, you know,
good customers supporter there in some country that you can't
get a hold of, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Are the Are Athena machines the most prominent ones?
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, they're the most popular.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Gotcha? Gotcha? All right? Very good, very good?
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Thank you?
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Hey, hey, real quick, before before the Feds were able
to get the money back, how much did your buddy's
mom get taken for? Uh?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It was like five grand God damn unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
He sent like two days, two days going to all
these different ATMs and collecting it and then it was
a it was a fast mart mechanics. So it's actually
on the news if you find the link. It happened
like five years ago or so, oh wow, no kidding, Hey,
I never got to thank you. I won the AHAR
radio tickets a couple of years ago we went to Vegas. Oh, dude,
I haven't talked to you, said appreciated.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Good, I'm glad you had a good time. Good for you,
Thank you five grand.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We could have been having dinner at Joe Joe Beninati's house. Yep,
the five grand Joe Bevlockwell will come here just to
have dinner.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Did he say anything, I was distracted over here. Did
he say anything about the percentage and how compares to
other companies?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
No, he just said no he did not that.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I want to find out too.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Oh, so, like, if their transaction fee is twenty six percent,
what is the transaction fee at a competitor.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Because somebody's sent in what it usually is and there's
just no way this one company is getting away with
charging so much more.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
What did they say?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It was three percent? No way is the usual fee.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
So three percent is the usual fee, but Athena charges
twenty six percent.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
One person said that, So I need something?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
What am I like? You better?
Speaker 1 (13:30):
I better be getting customers, like there better be a
hole that opens on the side of that ATM for
me es.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
So we need at least one more or two bits
of evidence.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I'd be hi Ellie in the morning.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Hi is this me?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Who's this?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
This is Corey Rick Virginia.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
How you doing, Hey, Corey? I'm doing great? Your hip two?
Uh bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I was gonna tell you that they like to use
the Athena because it's it's most of the time, it's irreversible,
it's super fast, and it's anonymous, and they honestly they
leave gabs in it, so you can.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
They leave what no? Oh damn it? Wait are you there?
Nah line too?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yelliead the morning.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
Hi is me?
Speaker 5 (14:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Who's this?
Speaker 9 (14:23):
My name is Jenna. I'm so excited to talk given
listen to you for a million years.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Oh well, thank you, Jenna.
Speaker 9 (14:29):
My boyfriend works for a bitcoin ATM company doing customer
service right regularly stop scams. And I think the reason
a lot of people might go to Athena is because
his company, I know, has a lot of requirements. You
have to upload your address, I mean, you're a copy
of your license, You have to wait a couple of days,
and then if it's an amounts, it's this. If it's
(14:53):
for a larger amount, he has to go through a
scam script and you have to acknowledge all these things.
It goes through the different types of scams like a
romance scam or a finance scam, and gives people the
chance to say, you know what, this doesn't sound right,
and then they can also freeze the transaction until you
(15:14):
get you know, the correct information into the system right,
and sometimes they can be reversed, but for the most part,
once it goes through, there's really nothing you can do
about it. But he has been able to help people
and get some of their money back. But also his
his fees are only seventeen percent.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Now without any context, I would hear seventeen percent and
go get your.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Hand out of my pocket.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
However, at Athena it's twenty six percent.
Speaker 9 (15:45):
Yes, don't go to Athena.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
But now somebody so the person who said the average
fee is three percent, are they lying?
Speaker 9 (15:53):
That might be to do a deposit, but it's different
for withdrawal than deposits.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Yeah, but Atenda is.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Making twenty six percent on the transaction. It's all deposit.
They're not paying anybody. Oh no, But if somebody got
to get it out of there and the scammer got
to get it out of there, yes.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
Some of the machines are you're able to do withdrawals,
but most of them are deposit only, right, and you
can go on coinbase and do an app and pay
nothing until you want to withdraw it.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, I know, but that seems like it would be no, because,
like the guy said, they want you to bring cash
in and deposit it in there.
Speaker 9 (16:33):
Yes, So before the transaction can go through, you'll get
a call from my boyfriend saying, hey, I got to
read you some stuff just to make sure for your
own protection. And sometimes they'll say, oh, no, I know
this person. I've been dealing with them for years. Until
unfreeze the transaction, and they'll call back a couple of
days later and go, I think I was scammed. And
then it's like, hey, you answered yes to all these questions.
(16:55):
You have to go through all these yeah, all these
things on the machine saying this is sending it to
my own wallet, and a lot of times the scammers
will say tell them it's your wallet, just say yes,
but really you're only supposed to send it to your
own wallet, right. Once it goes to somebody else's and
then that's.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Where then you're screwed, right, Yeah, no, no, and listen,
I get it. The scammers are going to put as
much pressure on you as they can. I understand that.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Oh yeah, so the person so old person goes in,
they deposit ten thousand dollars. While it's waiting to go through,
your boyfriend calls them and goes, hey, I see you
just deposited ten thousand dollars into this bitcoin ATM and
then runs them through the checklist in hopes that if
it is a scammer, whatever, the person will either have
(17:41):
an awakening or something triggers them.
Speaker 9 (17:47):
It's exactly or it's really only for your first couple transactions.
Like if you're coming in and you're calling it bitcom
and you're trying to deposit fifteen thousand dollars, that's a
red flag and he'll, you know, devil little deeper into
like you know, do you really know this person? But
also there's a limit you can only do I think
up to nine hundred, nine thousand and nine ninety nine
(18:10):
per day. But for new customers now, I think there's
like a two or three day waiting period before you
can actually get the transaction to go through, just for
checks and balances, because scams happen regularly.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Is this number?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I got to find it in here, here we go.
There is there any way? Is there any way? This
is true, and this is part of the Attorney General's
lawsuit in d C. Of all deposits made through Athena
ATMs in DC, ninety three percent were tied to scams.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Whoa wow.
Speaker 9 (18:46):
Probably because they don't have the checks and balances. I mean,
they scammers. They know not to come to our machines
because they know that they're going to have to jump
through all these tubes.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
But three percent, ninety three percent, they're in the crossairs.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
That's see a thank you, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
So it's not even like, oh my god, you know
a handful of bad actors are ruining. Ninety three percent
of all transactions are scams.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
So at twenty six percent, it's all coming together now. Yes,
her call, honestly was the very helpful on trying to
understand it. I had no idea that some of these
machines had those checks and balances, including a personal phone call.
Like that's crazy to me. We've heard of banks and
tellers maybe stepping in and trying to help.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
But even they got a pussy foot around it of
like like if somebody will go in and they'll go hey,
you're taking out a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
What what is that for?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Like they can't just jump in and go, hey, do
you feel like you're being scammed? And somebody will go like, oh,
I'm getting a car, and they'll go, well, like tell
me about the car, like you know what I mean.
Like they just can't come out and go are you
getting scammed? It sounds like at least with this this
this woman in her boyfriend.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Like they just ask you flat out is this a
romance scam?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You really think you're dating Brad Pitt.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
I think it was. I don't see the message now,
but guy wrote, if you're in a convenience store and
you find yourself in one quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I go to convenience stores all the time.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And you ever see an elderly person shoveling cash into
a crypto machine, you have to no, you should do
stop them.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, they'll probably think I'm trying to kill them. What
am I gonna do?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I mean, I stop them and say, hey, okay, can great?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Okay you ready?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Am I the old person? You're the advocate? Okay, I'm
seeing you.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I'm gonna I'm over here putting money in.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
I'm seeing you with your your old purse and you're
shoving What are you doing to the wall?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
How bad is his vision? Why are you right nose
to the screen? The bitcoin.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
I have to put I have to put that long
coat in, and I'm huned. I'm wearing my Jerry suit.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Sir.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Okay, you're ready and Roland, sir.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
I don't mean to be so forward, but do you
are you positive that what you're doing is part of
a legitimate transaction?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Hello, he looks like a corn fan.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
You're yelling from the other side of the room.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
No, I'm just saying I would. I would be up.
I would stand up next to you.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
I would stand up next to you and ask you
so to try to keep it like a private conversation.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
So did Diane so because she doesn't want to get up.
All right, here's the at Excuse me, ma'am. No, no, no, no,
no no. And you don't you don't touch them, you
don't touch them.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
You're you're still you're still the one getting scammed.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I'm I'm you. I'm helping the elderlier, so important, okay,
And she won't stand up for him.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Well, I didn't want to go over it.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
But then you'd have two people off mic. Okay, he's
still shaking. He does look like a corn fan or Josh.
Remember when Josh scammed that old lady out of Alexis.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
Ready, Yes, excuse me, sir, sir, I just noticed you've
got a large amount of cash that you're depositing into
this bitcoin machine.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Because you turned around with the weird stink eye.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
I'm trying to Yeah, you know what, because my grandson.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
Is I understand, I understand that you're You're probably just
trying to do the right thing. You feel like you've
you've got to insert this money in this machine in.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Order to in order to help you he was kidnapped.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
But could could we could could we maybe call the
police and see if they could help you to make
sure that you're not getting scammed.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
You call the police.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
I'll do it right now. I'll call nine one call. Okay,
but what in the ten minutes or so it's going
to take them to get here, call?
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Can you?
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Can you stop putting the money in?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
No, my son is in jail.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Well it's your son of your grandson.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm old.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
He's in angry. Else.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
Yeah, and at some point, if you're gonna be that
much of a dick, I'm gonna go good.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Here's your damn money, elderly.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Like in your mind, I'm gonna turn around and give
you all my money for saving me.
Speaker 7 (23:27):
No, I'm not asking for the money. I'm trying to
stop you from giving all your money away to somebody.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
By the way, you would nobody in this room would
know how to stop an old person for money.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
At least if you step in, maybe you could have
a conversation with you.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Realize they're doing it because they think whoever is talking
to them wants them to do it with it.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
This is where I like. This is where I like
the girl and her boyfriend.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
They've already put the money in and then they call
him back and try to talk to him. Yeah, not
in the moment. In the moment like, what's the scam.
Your grandson is in jail and you need to get
them out. They've been taking their kidnapped. They they gambled
away money and they're gonna get beat up. And so
in the moment, old guy, he didn't want to hear
your story about how you're concerned. I'm trying to save
(24:12):
somebody's life. Go pound sand bitch. So there's no like
that's not.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
No, you know what I mean. I don't know how
you would stop.
Speaker 7 (24:20):
I would just tackle or I would hate to see
you lose all the money that you've worked your whole
life for your retirement from.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I'd hate to see you keep talking to me. I'm
trying to save my grandson's life.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
Do you know ninety nine percent of the time these
things are scams?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Okay? All right, then I got a hip hip check yet.
Oh you'll thank me later.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Can you can you help me now? I just I
just piss myself a little. Can you smell my urine?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Like?
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I don't think it's that I'm being serious.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
I don't think it's that easy to stop an old
person using an ats.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
But but if you can see that they have no idea,
it would be the same.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, yeah, walk call me walk next door to seven eleven,
and the first person that uses the ATM.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Okay, this is not somebody getting cash ATM.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
No, no, but you don't just make sure that they're
not getting scammed. Whatever it is, go to the ATM.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
It go excuse me. I couldn't help, but notice you're
using the ATM. I want to make sure you're not
getting scammed.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What script do the tellers at banks use? Maybe we
could build something out of that. Well, I don't know.
I'm not a banker, but are you trusted more because
you are an employee of the bank questioning the deposit
or whatever it may be, the withdrawal?
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Maybe, but I think even then they don't tell them.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
No, they definitely get involved.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
At the banks. We've heard can't get involved.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
We definitely have heard. You said that they tiptoe.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
You got to tackle them.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Taking the chin off. It kills. Elliot's done with this?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Where am I going? Line one? Hi? Ellieh the morning?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Hey is me?
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (26:09):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Who's this?
Speaker 8 (26:11):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (26:11):
My name is Zach.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
I'm big into crypto. I heard you guys talking about
crypto is I had to call in. But it's crazy,
like the high percentage of scams, but like bitcoin itself,
I feel like it's tied to just about every scam online,
just when it comes to social media. So I believe
it one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Which so when you hear that number that ninety three
percent of transactions on an athena ATM in the District
of Columbia, ninety three percent of them are tied to
a scam. That's that sounds accurate to you, I will say.
Speaker 8 (26:47):
It sounds extremely high. But the only reason I'm saying
yes is because like I'm in a bunch of like
those crypto groups online or whatever, but people always try
to scam you, even the ones that aren't from there.
It's always hey, do you mind sending me bitcoin? Or
would you like to learn how to trade with bitcoin?
It's never any of the other twenty thousand different you know,
(27:08):
it's always bitcoin, and there's like they what country they allowed,
but they allowed the country to use like a bitcoin wallet,
I think like Honduras or something, but they pretty much
had the same thing of like, you know, there's gases
to move the money regardless, so it being like the
high you know, pretty much high taxes just to move
the money and to use it. And it's a scammy blockchain.
(27:30):
In my opinion, you're like a crypto. Just everything that's
like game related crypto wise online seems to be tied
to bitcoin. Is that just as far as like what
currency they want?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Is that partly because though bitcoin is the the Kleenex,
if you will of cryptocurrency.
Speaker 8 (27:48):
I believe so, yes, And it's funny because, in my opinion,
it's not even the I mean, obviously everybody has their
own opinion, but it's not even the best one. But
I guess it depends on what you want to do
with it.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, I mean, whether it's whether it's the money just
one or not. It is. It is probably the most
common name that people know.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
Oh yeah, that's the one that everybody knows. Like anybody
that talks about crypto, they always assume Bitcoin, and like
if I try to talk about it with somebody, they
say it's just a scam. And they say, I'll say, hey,
let's talk about crypto just for example, and they'll be like, oh,
Bitcoin's a scam.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
No.
Speaker 8 (28:21):
So I mean, it's just known. As you know, everybody
has their own opinion on us. But I can see
I can see everybody claiming that it's a it's that
big of a scam.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Interesting. Interesting because of what everybody.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
Is like dealing with and all the people that are
getting scammed out of it.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Hey, I appreciate the phone call. Thank you sir. You
got to talk to you later.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yes, before you start reading over my shoulder, I will
say that this person writes, don't use my name, okay,
do not read the name Okay. In the chat, I
work for a small.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Oh no, that was earlier with her cooter tutor.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
It almost sounds like the monkey is saying.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
That was that was her quef confession. Anyway, I'm sorry,
I won't read the name, by.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
The way, not the person's like, don't even read that.
A small financial institution and we have at least six
scams that we report each day. Wow, Elliott's acting was
totally accurate. Oh, we have a member who is a
federal employee who is adamant. She personally knows Elon Musk
(29:36):
and that she must loan him money and has done
so many times to help with his bills. She sends
the money by bitcoin. We've tried to stop her, she
doesn't believe us, and her husband doesn't know. Oh my god,
I got to tackle her.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Yes, Elon, but like, how do you person who's going
to become the world's first trillionaire need your honey needs
your money with his car notes?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Okay, but but that's a perfect example, right.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
A rational mind who isn't being scammed would go, so me.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Elon musks money, Well, forget whether.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
He knows he needs money.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
So he needs so oh you know what I didn't
get doged. He knows me he needs money, so he's
coming to me. I'm the only person he knows that
has money. So again you could see there's no rational
thought there.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
No, it's you're delusional. But Diana's gonna stand there and
kindly go excuse me, excuse me.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
That's why I'm gonna turn around and go, No, my
friend Elon needs money.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Get away from me. Wouldn't you get away from me?
You think the world's richest man needs your money? Have
you got that?
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Well, he's my friend, he's my friend. You're not my friend.
You're bothering me. You're bothering me. My friend needs me.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
In that case, will you buy me my big gulp?
See this is well, because at some point you're turning
into a dick. I would have already called nine one
one and said, listen, this guy's obviously getting scammed. Can
you get over here the answer even without because maybe
law enforcement would be better to have a conversation there
fast enough.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Athena, it doesn't because you don't.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
You don't, you don't interact the second you see let's
just say, anybody, what's elderly sixty five?
Speaker 3 (31:24):
You see anybody that you believe is sixty five or older.
Even approaching an ATM. You just called nine one.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Not a regular ATM, A bitcoy. I need dollars cash
for the collection.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Or your friend Elon whatever one. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah, we got to report to someone using an atming
stealing light.
Speaker 7 (31:50):
They tied up using they're They took them a couple
of times to put in their code.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
I think they forgot their pin. They got it, now
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Get on the floor.
How How what's the word I'm looking not predominant? How
what's the word that I'm looking for?
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Common?
Speaker 3 (00:07):
Yeah? Is that predominant? Why can't?
Speaker 4 (00:09):
Why does that word sound wrong coming out of my mouth?
Like a good word, whether it's common or popular. You
always seem to not like the word you're choosing. You
want a different word. But we don't know what you're
even talking about.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Athena bitcoin ATMs, Well, I have never heard of that, now.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
The no, No, you've heard of bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Right, I don't think I've ever seen one. Is Athena
a brand or type? A type of machine?
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I know it is a brand? Well, well, a type
of machine would be a brand?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
No, I mean like, is it a way to describe, like,
this is what studio?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Is this?
Speaker 4 (00:41):
Like?
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Atlantis?
Speaker 5 (00:43):
Right?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Okay? No? This is that?
Speaker 1 (00:45):
That's the Oh my god, what a horrible what a
horrible example, Tyler, Jesus Christ it's the.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Elliott in the Morning studio, but internally they refer to
it as as.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Right, which is stupid. It's stupid. So that might be
known that any of the studios that are this time.
Now you are in the Atlantis fan.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
I hearn't Christian, what is your studio called b P
P Production? Oh oh, there's not a name for it.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
Falcon.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Oh yeah, Falcon, Falcon stupid.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
You know what the company is called? Bankrupt?
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Oh so I thought maybe you will describing a type
of machine.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
See, No, no, I think I think an Athena Bitcoin
ATM is a company.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
No, Oh, I see there's a couple of locations in Rockville.
Speaker 3 (01:43):
That's what I mean. How yeah the ATM location?
Speaker 6 (01:47):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Yes, how predominant are Athena bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Like he said, there's three around here?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
No? No, but like if you scroll out that map,
there's a lot of them.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
There are damn.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
Look now their website is not loading right now, but
from the map that Google provided you can see there
are quite a few.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
Are there are? There a lot in the actual district.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
It looked like it on that initial mapping, right.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
So they're getting sued. Hey, Kristen, will you do me
a favor? Will you do me a favor? By the way,
would if I, Diane, if I said, go walk up
to that Athena Bitcoin ATM, would you know how to
use it?
Speaker 2 (02:33):
No?
Speaker 3 (02:33):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (02:34):
I don't? Wouldn't it?
Speaker 7 (02:35):
Wouldn't it be transferring? Money out of like is it
a bank account into your bitcoin account?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
It converts that way.
Speaker 7 (02:45):
It's not like I'm actually getting anything that looks resembling
a currency.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Would be putting money into your wallet.
Speaker 7 (02:50):
Right, yeah, into my bitcoin wallet? Yes, yeah, yeah, of course.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Of course.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
It says they're over forty one hundred.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
No way straight, no oh around the country.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Yes, never heard of this brand?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Are they? There? Are they?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Is that the most common bitcoin ATM? An athena Bitcoin ATM?
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Again, we're gonna have to look that up. It looks
like they're on a list. Now, they're on a list
with others, but they're one of the top us providers.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Okay, so they are. Am I going to line one
real quick? Hi yai in the morning.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
Have you used one of the bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
No?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
I was actually called to tell you the word you're
looking for prominence.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
No, that doesn't sound right.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I think that's right. Oh is it? Yeah? I think so?
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Oh then yes, you're correct. Thank you, sir, Thank you,
thank you for helping me.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
You got it. Talk to you later. Yeah, I need
I need, thank you, sir, Christian.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
Will you find me somebody who's used a bitcoin ATM?
Speaker 3 (04:01):
I guess whether it's an Athena one or not.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
It looks like there's a lot of them, like different kinds.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
So anybody who's used a bitcoin atm please eight six
six to Elliott eight six six two three five five.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Four six eight. Here's the reason I ask.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So the Attorney General in DC, I don't know his name,
is suing Athena, accusing Athena of profiting from scams that
are over that are that are being used at an
overwhelming number.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
So they point out a person with scam using.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Athena Bitcoin machines in d C, where there are undisclosed
fees up to twenty six percent, helps Athena make a
crap ton of money, Okay, but they were saying like this,
one person lost eight thousand dollars. Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
(05:08):
one hundred thousand dollars. They lost one hundred thousand dollars
old people. Right, For the most part, it's both like
they target old people and they just target whoever they target.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Finance scams, the guy said.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
The attorney general said gift cards were and still are
a popular way that scammers.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Get your money.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
This is right behind now, But how's Athena The scammer.
Speaker 3 (05:33):
They're not, but what they're what.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
So the Attorney General is saying, Athena knows that they
are being used by scammers, and Athena knows that they
get twenty six percent of the exchange the the transaction,
So Athena is doing nothing to help people that are
getting scammed or to warn people.
Speaker 3 (05:58):
That they're getting scammed.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So they're saying Athena, they're essentially being sued for turning
a blind eye and doing nothing to help the consumer
side of it because they want the selfish, greedy, twenty
six percent side of it. I don't know if they
have a case or not.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
That's a rough one.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
I don't know if they have a case.
Speaker 2 (06:19):
Now, are they required to do something in terms of
pop up warnings or something like that, Like are they
failing to operate legally, Because then there's a case it.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Says Athena knows this.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
According to the lawsuit, Athena knows its machines are being
used primarily by scammers, yet they choose to look the
other way so they can continue to pocket pocket.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Sizable hidden transaction fees.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
So I don't know if they're getting a little slap
for the hidden transaction fees or if they're getting a
slap for.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
Just kind of being we know that we're being used
for bad tough titty.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So there are thirty thousand and plus crypto machines in
the US.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Is it weird and you've never used one of them?
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Nope?
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Yes you will. No, yes you will. I don't trust
What if you get one of those text messages and
you're like, oh, I need to go deposit money.
Speaker 7 (07:15):
Well, I'm going to because they offered me a very
well paying position this morning, and I'll be replying later.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
But what would the fees be like if they're using
Athena because Athena wants these fees and they're not using
other companies, what are those fees like?
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Oh, for the other companies, I don't know, Like.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
The other companies clearly have I mean they have fees also,
but do something that makes it not as easy to
scam these.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
That's a good question. I don't know the answer to that.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Like they said, in some of these transactions, the fees
are up to twenty six percent, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
I don't know what the other ones are.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
Is a lot?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I know, yes, Jesus, that's a tremendous amount of money,
a tremendous amount of money.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
And of course in that moment, do you feel that urgency,
that pressure to get whatever it needs to be done?
Speaker 1 (08:04):
Of course, of course, and they say that they prey
on it. They know it's urgent, it's untraceable, it's urgent
you and you just and again, I don't know how
it worked.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
I've never used one. Hi, Ellie in the morning. Hey,
who's this the cayler for Richmond? Yes, sir, Bitcoin ATM.
So you use them?
Speaker 5 (08:27):
Oh yeah, I've been using them for a while.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Hey.
Speaker 1 (08:30):
You know they're more prominent, uh than I anticipated they
would big.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Yeah, they're in pretty much every every gas station. You know,
a lot of people don't notice them, but yeah, they're
in there. I used to use them because I would, uh,
gamble online and before you could convert bitcoin, you know
on Venmo apps and stuff, right, I'd have to take
a code, go to the ATM, then pull my money out. So,
for example, if bitcoin selling out one hundred and ten
(08:56):
thousand right now, they will buy it for like one
hundred and five that you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
No, I mean, I understand what you're saying.
Speaker 1 (09:04):
But let me let me ask you this let's say
let's say I fall for the scam, right, I get
a text message and whatever.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
They need money, and they're like, and I understand.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
I understand why they would want me to go to
a bitcoin machine because it's not being traceable.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
And I understand that, right, So.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That I get So I show up my buddy, I
go to I go to.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
Seven eleven or gas station, and I use the machine.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
How do I give them money?
Speaker 5 (09:32):
So what the scammers will do is they'll send you
this long code it's a bitcoin address. And this actually
happened to my buddy's grandma. The FEDS got involved and
they actually got the money back out of the ken.
But yeah, they'll send you this long code and you'll
go to the ATM, press deposit, put the code in,
and it'll wire it to their bitcoin address.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
Where where But where am I giving them my money from?
Speaker 5 (09:58):
You bring cash and the posit it into the ATM.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
So it's like during a cash deposit at.
Speaker 5 (10:04):
A bank exactly, yep. So it sits in that machine.
And when this happened to my buddy's grandma, they got
the cops, the FEDS and everybody involved, and they ended
up calling Athena or whoever it was, and they allowed
them to unlock it to get her money back.
Speaker 1 (10:19):
Now, and is the only way is the only way
to deposit the money in that ATM by inserting cash? Yeah, yep,
So why is it where it's said one of the
things that I was reading and listen, I'm glad that
for your for your buddy's mom or grandmam, it worked
(10:40):
out good that they were able to get the money
back because one of the things that I was reading
about in the scam or or I guess in the
lawsuit about the scam, is that once you, once you
deposit the money athena like, they won't give it back
to you.
Speaker 7 (10:56):
Like they can only give back a certain percentage of
it if it's proof that there's a scam house.
Speaker 3 (11:01):
If it's proven. Yeah, yeah, but how long do I
have to wait?
Speaker 2 (11:04):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I mean at that point, I'm just I may as
well just sit on my nuts.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
Yeah yeah, no. They it's like they know, but they
don't care because they're making so much other money and
they are used for the right things a lot of
the times.
Speaker 1 (11:18):
You know, Oh sure, what have I always said, find
me a good invention and I'll show you the people
that are using it for evil, but and and they are,
and you can maybe tell me that for the most part,
and I agree, for the most part, they probably are
being used for the right reasons. But why can you
answer Tyler's question? Why are why are scammers just using
(11:39):
Athena machines and not like coin flip machines.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
That's a good question. Probably they don't have, you know,
good customers supporter there in some country that you can't
get a hold of, you know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (11:54):
Are the Are Athena machines the most prominent ones?
Speaker 5 (12:00):
Yeah, they're the most popular.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Gotcha? Gotcha? All right? Very good, very good?
Speaker 5 (12:04):
Thank you?
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Hey, hey, real quick, before before the Feds were able
to get the money back, how much did your buddy's
mom get taken for? Uh?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
It was like five grand God damn unbelievable.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
He sent like two days, two days going to all
these different ATMs and collecting it and then it was
a it was a fast mart mechanics. So it's actually
on the news if you find the link. It happened
like five years ago or so, oh wow, no kidding, Hey,
I never got to thank you. I won the AHAR
radio tickets a couple of years ago we went to Vegas. Oh, dude,
I haven't talked to you, said appreciated.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Good, I'm glad you had a good time. Good for you,
Thank you five grand.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
We could have been having dinner at Joe Joe Beninati's house. Yep,
the five grand Joe Bevlockwell will come here just to
have dinner.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Did he say anything, I was distracted over here. Did
he say anything about the percentage and how compares to
other companies?
Speaker 3 (12:58):
No, he just said no he did not that.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
I want to find out too.
Speaker 1 (13:02):
Oh, so, like, if their transaction fee is twenty six percent,
what is the transaction fee at a competitor.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Because somebody's sent in what it usually is and there's
just no way this one company is getting away with
charging so much more.
Speaker 3 (13:17):
What did they say?
Speaker 2 (13:17):
It was three percent? No way is the usual fee.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
So three percent is the usual fee, but Athena charges
twenty six percent.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
One person said that, So I need something?
Speaker 3 (13:29):
What am I like? You better?
Speaker 1 (13:30):
I better be getting customers, like there better be a
hole that opens on the side of that ATM for
me es.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
So we need at least one more or two bits
of evidence.
Speaker 3 (13:43):
I'd be hi Ellie in the morning.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
Hi is this me?
Speaker 6 (13:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (13:48):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Who's this?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
This is Corey Rick Virginia.
Speaker 3 (13:51):
How you doing, Hey, Corey? I'm doing great? Your hip two?
Uh bitcoin ATMs?
Speaker 5 (13:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (13:57):
I was gonna tell you that they like to use
the Athena because it's it's most of the time, it's irreversible,
it's super fast, and it's anonymous, and they honestly they
leave gabs in it, so you can.
Speaker 3 (14:10):
They leave what no? Oh damn it? Wait are you there?
Nah line too?
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (14:17):
Yelliead the morning.
Speaker 8 (14:20):
Hi is me?
Speaker 5 (14:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Hi?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Who's this?
Speaker 9 (14:23):
My name is Jenna. I'm so excited to talk given
listen to you for a million years.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Oh well, thank you, Jenna.
Speaker 9 (14:29):
My boyfriend works for a bitcoin ATM company doing customer
service right regularly stop scams. And I think the reason
a lot of people might go to Athena is because
his company, I know, has a lot of requirements. You
have to upload your address, I mean, you're a copy
of your license, You have to wait a couple of days,
and then if it's an amounts, it's this. If it's
(14:53):
for a larger amount, he has to go through a
scam script and you have to acknowledge all these things.
It goes through the different types of scams like a
romance scam or a finance scam, and gives people the
chance to say, you know what, this doesn't sound right,
and then they can also freeze the transaction until you
(15:14):
get you know, the correct information into the system right,
and sometimes they can be reversed, but for the most part,
once it goes through, there's really nothing you can do
about it. But he has been able to help people
and get some of their money back. But also his
his fees are only seventeen percent.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
Now without any context, I would hear seventeen percent and
go get your.
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Hand out of my pocket.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
However, at Athena it's twenty six percent.
Speaker 9 (15:45):
Yes, don't go to Athena.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
But now somebody so the person who said the average
fee is three percent, are they lying?
Speaker 9 (15:53):
That might be to do a deposit, but it's different
for withdrawal than deposits.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
Yeah, but Atenda is.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Making twenty six percent on the transaction. It's all deposit.
They're not paying anybody. Oh no, But if somebody got
to get it out of there and the scammer got
to get it out of there, yes.
Speaker 9 (16:14):
Some of the machines are you're able to do withdrawals,
but most of them are deposit only, right, and you
can go on coinbase and do an app and pay
nothing until you want to withdraw it.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, I know, but that seems like it would be no, because,
like the guy said, they want you to bring cash
in and deposit it in there.
Speaker 9 (16:33):
Yes, So before the transaction can go through, you'll get
a call from my boyfriend saying, hey, I got to
read you some stuff just to make sure for your
own protection. And sometimes they'll say, oh, no, I know
this person. I've been dealing with them for years. Until
unfreeze the transaction, and they'll call back a couple of
days later and go, I think I was scammed. And
then it's like, hey, you answered yes to all these questions.
(16:55):
You have to go through all these yeah, all these
things on the machine saying this is sending it to
my own wallet, and a lot of times the scammers
will say tell them it's your wallet, just say yes,
but really you're only supposed to send it to your
own wallet, right. Once it goes to somebody else's and
then that's.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Where then you're screwed, right, Yeah, no, no, and listen,
I get it. The scammers are going to put as
much pressure on you as they can. I understand that.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Oh yeah, so the person so old person goes in,
they deposit ten thousand dollars. While it's waiting to go through,
your boyfriend calls them and goes, hey, I see you
just deposited ten thousand dollars into this bitcoin ATM and
then runs them through the checklist in hopes that if
it is a scammer, whatever, the person will either have
(17:41):
an awakening or something triggers them.
Speaker 9 (17:47):
It's exactly or it's really only for your first couple transactions.
Like if you're coming in and you're calling it bitcom
and you're trying to deposit fifteen thousand dollars, that's a
red flag and he'll, you know, devil little deeper into
like you know, do you really know this person? But
also there's a limit you can only do I think
up to nine hundred, nine thousand and nine ninety nine
(18:10):
per day. But for new customers now, I think there's
like a two or three day waiting period before you
can actually get the transaction to go through, just for
checks and balances, because scams happen regularly.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Is this number?
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I got to find it in here, here we go.
There is there any way? Is there any way? This
is true, and this is part of the Attorney General's
lawsuit in d C. Of all deposits made through Athena
ATMs in DC, ninety three percent were tied to scams.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Whoa wow.
Speaker 9 (18:46):
Probably because they don't have the checks and balances. I mean,
they scammers. They know not to come to our machines
because they know that they're going to have to jump
through all these tubes.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
But three percent, ninety three percent, they're in the crossairs.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
That's see a thank you, ma'am.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
So it's not even like, oh my god, you know
a handful of bad actors are ruining. Ninety three percent
of all transactions are scams.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
So at twenty six percent, it's all coming together now. Yes,
her call, honestly was the very helpful on trying to
understand it. I had no idea that some of these
machines had those checks and balances, including a personal phone call.
Like that's crazy to me. We've heard of banks and
tellers maybe stepping in and trying to help.
Speaker 1 (19:36):
But even they got a pussy foot around it of
like like if somebody will go in and they'll go hey,
you're taking out a lot of money.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
What what is that for?
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Like they can't just jump in and go, hey, do
you feel like you're being scammed? And somebody will go like, oh,
I'm getting a car, and they'll go, well, like tell
me about the car, like you know what I mean.
Like they just can't come out and go are you
getting scammed? It sounds like at least with this this
this woman in her boyfriend.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Like they just ask you flat out is this a
romance scam?
Speaker 1 (20:04):
You really think you're dating Brad Pitt.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
I think it was. I don't see the message now,
but guy wrote, if you're in a convenience store and
you find yourself in one quite a bit.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
I go to convenience stores all the time.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And you ever see an elderly person shoveling cash into
a crypto machine, you have to no, you should do
stop them.
Speaker 3 (20:25):
Yeah, they'll probably think I'm trying to kill them. What
am I gonna do?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
I mean, I stop them and say, hey, okay, can great?
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Okay you ready?
Speaker 2 (20:39):
Am I the old person? You're the advocate? Okay, I'm
seeing you.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I'm gonna I'm over here putting money in.
Speaker 7 (20:46):
I'm seeing you with your your old purse and you're
shoving What are you doing to the wall?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
How bad is his vision? Why are you right nose
to the screen? The bitcoin.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
I have to put I have to put that long
coat in, and I'm huned. I'm wearing my Jerry suit.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Sir.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
Okay, you're ready and Roland, sir.
Speaker 7 (21:19):
I don't mean to be so forward, but do you
are you positive that what you're doing is part of
a legitimate transaction?
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Hello, he looks like a corn fan.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
You're yelling from the other side of the room.
Speaker 2 (21:34):
No, I'm just saying I would. I would be up.
I would stand up next to you.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
I would stand up next to you and ask you
so to try to keep it like a private conversation.
Speaker 2 (21:44):
So did Diane so because she doesn't want to get up.
All right, here's the at Excuse me, ma'am. No, no, no, no,
no no. And you don't you don't touch them, you
don't touch them.
Speaker 7 (21:53):
You're you're still you're still the one getting scammed.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
I'm I'm you. I'm helping the elderlier, so important, okay,
And she won't stand up for him.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
Well, I didn't want to go over it.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
But then you'd have two people off mic. Okay, he's
still shaking. He does look like a corn fan or Josh.
Remember when Josh scammed that old lady out of Alexis.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
Ready, Yes, excuse me, sir, sir, I just noticed you've
got a large amount of cash that you're depositing into
this bitcoin machine.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
Because you turned around with the weird stink eye.
Speaker 1 (22:33):
I'm trying to Yeah, you know what, because my grandson.
Speaker 7 (22:39):
Is I understand, I understand that you're You're probably just
trying to do the right thing. You feel like you've
you've got to insert this money in this machine in.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Order to in order to help you he was kidnapped.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
But could could we could could we maybe call the
police and see if they could help you to make
sure that you're not getting scammed.
Speaker 3 (22:56):
You call the police.
Speaker 7 (22:57):
I'll do it right now. I'll call nine one call. Okay,
but what in the ten minutes or so it's going
to take them to get here, call?
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Can you?
Speaker 2 (23:06):
Can you stop putting the money in?
Speaker 3 (23:08):
No, my son is in jail.
Speaker 2 (23:10):
Well it's your son of your grandson.
Speaker 3 (23:11):
I'm old.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
He's in angry. Else.
Speaker 7 (23:14):
Yeah, and at some point, if you're gonna be that
much of a dick, I'm gonna go good.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Here's your damn money, elderly.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Like in your mind, I'm gonna turn around and give
you all my money for saving me.
Speaker 7 (23:27):
No, I'm not asking for the money. I'm trying to
stop you from giving all your money away to somebody.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
By the way, you would nobody in this room would
know how to stop an old person for money.
Speaker 7 (23:37):
At least if you step in, maybe you could have
a conversation with you.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Realize they're doing it because they think whoever is talking
to them wants them to do it with it.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
This is where I like. This is where I like
the girl and her boyfriend.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
They've already put the money in and then they call
him back and try to talk to him. Yeah, not
in the moment. In the moment like, what's the scam.
Your grandson is in jail and you need to get
them out. They've been taking their kidnapped. They they gambled
away money and they're gonna get beat up. And so
in the moment, old guy, he didn't want to hear
your story about how you're concerned. I'm trying to save
(24:12):
somebody's life. Go pound sand bitch. So there's no like
that's not.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
No, you know what I mean. I don't know how
you would stop.
Speaker 7 (24:20):
I would just tackle or I would hate to see
you lose all the money that you've worked your whole
life for your retirement from.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I'd hate to see you keep talking to me. I'm
trying to save my grandson's life.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Okay.
Speaker 7 (24:30):
Do you know ninety nine percent of the time these
things are scams?
Speaker 2 (24:35):
Okay? All right, then I got a hip hip check yet.
Oh you'll thank me later.
Speaker 3 (24:42):
Can you can you help me now? I just I
just piss myself a little. Can you smell my urine?
Speaker 1 (24:50):
Like?
Speaker 3 (24:51):
I don't think it's that I'm being serious.
Speaker 1 (24:52):
I don't think it's that easy to stop an old
person using an ats.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
But but if you can see that they have no idea,
it would be the same.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Yeah, yeah, walk call me walk next door to seven eleven,
and the first person that uses the ATM.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
Okay, this is not somebody getting cash ATM.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
No, no, but you don't just make sure that they're
not getting scammed. Whatever it is, go to the ATM.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
It go excuse me. I couldn't help, but notice you're
using the ATM. I want to make sure you're not
getting scammed.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
What script do the tellers at banks use? Maybe we
could build something out of that. Well, I don't know.
I'm not a banker, but are you trusted more because
you are an employee of the bank questioning the deposit
or whatever it may be, the withdrawal?
Speaker 3 (25:36):
Maybe, but I think even then they don't tell them.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
No, they definitely get involved.
Speaker 3 (25:41):
At the banks. We've heard can't get involved.
Speaker 2 (25:44):
We definitely have heard. You said that they tiptoe.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
You got to tackle them.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Taking the chin off. It kills. Elliot's done with this?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
Where am I going? Line one? Hi? Ellieh the morning?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
Hey is me?
Speaker 3 (26:08):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (26:09):
Hi?
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Who's this?
Speaker 8 (26:11):
Hey?
Speaker 6 (26:11):
My name is Zach.
Speaker 8 (26:13):
I'm big into crypto. I heard you guys talking about
crypto is I had to call in. But it's crazy,
like the high percentage of scams, but like bitcoin itself,
I feel like it's tied to just about every scam online,
just when it comes to social media. So I believe
it one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (26:30):
Which so when you hear that number that ninety three
percent of transactions on an athena ATM in the District
of Columbia, ninety three percent of them are tied to
a scam. That's that sounds accurate to you, I will say.
Speaker 8 (26:47):
It sounds extremely high. But the only reason I'm saying
yes is because like I'm in a bunch of like
those crypto groups online or whatever, but people always try
to scam you, even the ones that aren't from there.
It's always hey, do you mind sending me bitcoin? Or
would you like to learn how to trade with bitcoin?
It's never any of the other twenty thousand different you know,
(27:08):
it's always bitcoin, and there's like they what country they allowed,
but they allowed the country to use like a bitcoin wallet,
I think like Honduras or something, but they pretty much
had the same thing of like, you know, there's gases
to move the money regardless, so it being like the
high you know, pretty much high taxes just to move
the money and to use it. And it's a scammy blockchain.
(27:30):
In my opinion, you're like a crypto. Just everything that's
like game related crypto wise online seems to be tied
to bitcoin. Is that just as far as like what
currency they want?
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Is that partly because though bitcoin is the the Kleenex,
if you will of cryptocurrency.
Speaker 8 (27:48):
I believe so, yes, And it's funny because, in my opinion,
it's not even the I mean, obviously everybody has their
own opinion, but it's not even the best one. But
I guess it depends on what you want to do
with it.
Speaker 3 (27:57):
Yeah, I mean, whether it's whether it's the money just
one or not. It is. It is probably the most
common name that people know.
Speaker 8 (28:05):
Oh yeah, that's the one that everybody knows. Like anybody
that talks about crypto, they always assume Bitcoin, and like
if I try to talk about it with somebody, they
say it's just a scam. And they say, I'll say, hey,
let's talk about crypto just for example, and they'll be like, oh,
Bitcoin's a scam.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
No.
Speaker 8 (28:21):
So I mean, it's just known. As you know, everybody
has their own opinion on us. But I can see
I can see everybody claiming that it's a it's that
big of a scam.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
Interesting. Interesting because of what everybody.
Speaker 8 (28:32):
Is like dealing with and all the people that are
getting scammed out of it.
Speaker 3 (28:34):
Hey, I appreciate the phone call. Thank you sir. You
got to talk to you later.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Yes, before you start reading over my shoulder, I will
say that this person writes, don't use my name, okay,
do not read the name Okay. In the chat, I
work for a small.
Speaker 4 (28:49):
Oh no, that was earlier with her cooter tutor.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
It almost sounds like the monkey is saying.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
That was that was her quef confession. Anyway, I'm sorry,
I won't read the name, by.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
The way, not the person's like, don't even read that.
A small financial institution and we have at least six
scams that we report each day. Wow, Elliott's acting was
totally accurate. Oh, we have a member who is a
federal employee who is adamant. She personally knows Elon Musk
(29:36):
and that she must loan him money and has done
so many times to help with his bills. She sends
the money by bitcoin. We've tried to stop her, she
doesn't believe us, and her husband doesn't know. Oh my god,
I got to tackle her.
Speaker 7 (29:53):
Yes, Elon, but like, how do you person who's going
to become the world's first trillionaire need your honey needs
your money with his car notes?
Speaker 3 (30:01):
Okay, but but that's a perfect example, right.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
A rational mind who isn't being scammed would go, so me.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
Elon musks money, Well, forget whether.
Speaker 2 (30:14):
He knows he needs money.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
So he needs so oh you know what I didn't
get doged. He knows me he needs money, so he's
coming to me. I'm the only person he knows that
has money. So again you could see there's no rational
thought there.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
No, it's you're delusional. But Diana's gonna stand there and
kindly go excuse me, excuse me.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
That's why I'm gonna turn around and go, No, my
friend Elon needs money.
Speaker 7 (30:42):
Get away from me. Wouldn't you get away from me?
You think the world's richest man needs your money? Have
you got that?
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Well, he's my friend, he's my friend. You're not my friend.
You're bothering me. You're bothering me. My friend needs me.
Speaker 7 (30:57):
In that case, will you buy me my big gulp?
See this is well, because at some point you're turning
into a dick. I would have already called nine one
one and said, listen, this guy's obviously getting scammed. Can
you get over here the answer even without because maybe
law enforcement would be better to have a conversation there
fast enough.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Athena, it doesn't because you don't.
Speaker 1 (31:18):
You don't, you don't interact the second you see let's
just say, anybody, what's elderly sixty five?
Speaker 3 (31:24):
You see anybody that you believe is sixty five or older.
Even approaching an ATM. You just called nine one.
Speaker 7 (31:30):
Not a regular ATM, A bitcoy. I need dollars cash
for the collection.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
Or your friend Elon whatever one. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (31:44):
Yeah, we got to report to someone using an atming
stealing light.
Speaker 7 (31:50):
They tied up using they're They took them a couple
of times to put in their code.
Speaker 2 (31:55):
I think they forgot their pin. They got it, now
Speaker 3 (32:00):
Get on the floor.
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