‘Grandma Posse’ making sure every Bitcoin ATM in Omaha has scam warning sticker

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Bitcoin ATMs are a newer way to transfer money. But they are also where an older generation is being sent by scammers.

“He just told me to keep him on the phone so I would not be lost and he could continue to help me,” said a scam victim who asked to remain anonymous.

By helping himself to $6,000, this scammer convinced the victim to send through a bitcoin machine for a phony legal scare.

“Seniors are losing [thousands],” said Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. “One gentleman lost half-a-million dollars over a 30 day period.”

So from that target group the sheriff has recruited volunteers to check bitcoin machines for the required scam warning sticker, and they’re trained on how to give store managers a warning.

A yellow vest is the posse’s uniform and each member gets a whistle in case of an emergency. After they saddle up, the Grandma Posse heads up to a northwest Omaha convenience store where they find the Bitcoin machine already has a warning sign.

The posse message is that the warning signs save other seniors from scams. The sticker ordinance is sponsored by Omaha City Councilwoman Aimee Melton, who watches the Grandma Posse in action.

“They care about our community, they care about others in the same age group they are, and it’s something they can do to help combat scams,” Melton said.

The Grandma Posse is giving businesses a heads-up about the new ordinance, but if a law enforcement officer finds Bitcoin machine without the scam warning sticker, the store could be cited and fined $500.

Copyright 2025 WOWT. All rights reserved.