Heber City Joins Layton in Banning : Utah’s Fight Against

A small convenience store in , Utah, turned into ground zero for . Store owner Mohamed “Moe” Mohamed thought adding a would bring in new customers. Instead, it brought heartbreak. Elderly folks showed up with bags of cash—sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. They were victims of scams, and Mohamed could not stop it. Now, has banned these machines, becoming the second Utah city to do so after Layton.

The Story Behind the Ban

Mohamed installed the at his Mountainland One Stop store about a year ago. He signed a three-year contract, excited about Bitcoin’s rise. But soon, crowds came. Many were older people carrying huge amounts of cash to buy crypto.

Mohamed asked questions. He learned they were tricked by scammers online. Stuck in the contract, he made a rule: staff must keep customers away from the machine. It was his only defense.

On April 7, the Council passed an ordinance to ban . The single machine in town must be removed within 60 days. This gave Mohamed an out.

Police Chief Parker Sever pushed for the ban. He heard a talk from the Utah Attorney General’s Office on . Then he spoke with Mohamed. “There was no intent on the part of One Stop to commit any fraud,” Sever said. “They thought it was legitimate, like I would have too.”

Why Are a Magnet for Scams

let people buy Bitcoin or other coins with cash. They look like regular ATMs but charge high fees—20% to 40%. Online exchanges charge far less. These machines also face little regulation, making them easy for criminals.

Utah Deputy Attorney General Stewart Young says over 90% of transactions link to fraud or crime. Scammers from other countries use them to move money across borders. They are perfect for money laundering too.

How do scams work? The scammer tricks the victim into sending cash to a wallet via the ATM. Common tricks include:

• Pig-slaughtering scams: Scammers build fake romance online. They pretend to be rich, like an oil worker on a rig. They say, “I love you, but I need money to start a business so we can be together.” Victims send cash.
• Fake cops: Scammers pose as police. They threaten arrest for missing jury duty or unpaid tickets. “Pay now at a to fix it,” they say.
• Fake investments: Victim buys crypto. Scammer adds fake profits to the account. Victim adds more money, thinking it’s growing. Then scammer vanishes.

These scams hit hard, especially seniors. Victims lose life savings.

Utah’s Statewide Response: House Bill 72

Utah is not stopping at city bans. The House passed in the 2026 session. Sponsor Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox from Weber County led it.

New rules for start soon:

• Show fraud warnings in English and Spanish.
• Offer 24/7 toll-free help line.
• Print receipts with fraud reporting info.
• Limit first-time buys: $2,000 max per day for three days.
• After that, $5,000 max per day per person.

From July 1, local police must train one officer every three years on .

Other Bans in Utah and Beyond

Layton led the way in March, banning first. copied their ordinance.

In Wasatch County, no other machines known. Summit County has one at Top Stop Chevron on S.R. 224. No issues reported, no ban plans yet.

States like Indiana and Tennessee banned them fully this year.

A Business Owner’s Regret

Mohamed regrets it all. “It’s been the worst thing I’ve ever put in a business, and I’ve owned one for 22 years,” he said. “I advise every city, county, and state to ban these.”

What Are and Should You Use Them?

are kiosks where you insert cash and scan a wallet QR code to buy digital coins. They are in stores, gas stations, malls. Pros: Quick, no bank needed, private. Cons: Sky-high fees, scam risk, no buyer protection.

Experts say use online exchanges like Coinbase or Binance instead. They have lower fees, better security, and support.

Tips to Avoid

1. Never send crypto to strangers online.
2. Check for red flags: Too-good investments, pressure to act fast, romance from unknowns.
3. Use trusted platforms only.
4. Report scams to police or FTC.
5. If scammed, stop sending money. Contact your bank.

The Future of in the US

More bans may come. High fraud rates push regulators. But crypto grows fast. Balanced rules could help legit users while stopping crime.

In Utah, ‘s ban protects locals. It shows cities act when state lags. Watch for more changes.

Bitcoin and crypto have bright futures. Stay safe, do research, avoid for now.

Key Takeaways

• banned after scam reports at one store.
• Scams like pig-slaughtering prey on trust.
• Utah’s HB72 adds limits and warnings.
• High fees and low oversight fuel problems.
• Stick to safe ways to buy crypto.

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