Marty Gordon
NRVsports@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Bitcoin ATM scammers targeting senior citizens successfully stole more than $100 million this past year through schemes that often began with a seemingly “concerned” customer service phone call.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of fraud involving money sent through bitcoin ATMs—electronic crypto kiosks for buying and selling bitcoin—have surged nearly tenfold since 2020. The data also revealed that Americans over the age of 60 were more than three times as likely to be victimized compared to younger adults.
A Christiansburg business, BP Handy Mart Gas Station and Convenience Store located at 255 North Franklin St., is a site for a bitcoin ATM, and its owners, Remon Yassa and Therese Gerges, have stopped several of those scams when seniors have been instructed to send money.
According to the FBI, overseas scammers are misusing bitcoin ATMs to target senior citizens across the country. After getting them on the phone, scammers con the elderly into sending them thousands of dollars via these machines.
Remon said they have seen this happen over and over again, and they have stepped in to stop seniors from taking the next step in sending bitcoin to whoever is on the other end of the phone.
The business owners were recognized this past week by Christiansburg Town Council during its regularly scheduled meeting and thanked for their effort in preventing this scam.
A special proclamation said:
“Whereas Remon Yassa and Therese Gerges have recognized the prevalence of this type of fraud, particularly fraud targeting elderly members of the community and, further, have taken steps to educate themselves on detecting and recognizing the warning signs of potentially fraudulent transactions; and whereas, between the dates of March 27, 2026, and April 6, 2026, Remon Yassa and Therese Gerges recognized and intervened in three separate fraudulent transactions preventing the theft of $61,000 from three community members; and whereas Remon Yassa and Therese Gerges have prevented similar thefts countless times in the past, preventing the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
“Therefore, let it be proclaimed, that Remon Yassa and Therese Gerges are formally commended for their extraordinary performance and unwavering dedication to the prevention of fraud in the community, on behalf of the Town of Christiansburg and the Christiansburg Police Department, the town thanks them for their outstanding service to the community.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has issued the following warnings about these scams:
- Legitimate companies do not typically seek to access to computers or phones remotely, that is, you should not be asked to share your computer screen with a legitimate company.
- Legitimate companies do not request that customers provide User ID or Passwords for the representative to log into your account for you.
- Legitimate companies do not ask customers to send cash through the mail, deliver gold bars or precious metals, or make deposits into cryptocurrency ATMs.
- Legitimate companies do not ask customers to mail money or wire funds in order to refund alleged overpayments.
If you are asked to do any of these things, hang up the phone.
Yassa said he and his wife have noticed victims, typically senior citizens, being led through this payment process with the scammers directing them on how to deposit money into Bitcoin ATMs or buy gift cards. In many instances, the scammers portray themselves as law enforcement officers or court representatives, employing sophisticated jargon and realistic-looking documentation to sound credible.
In other matters during the governmental meeting, council discussed its previously approved contract with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for the replacement of the railroad crossing on Peppers Ferry Road between Bradley Drive NW and Quin W. Stewart Boulevard NW in the amount of $176,910. Several council members expressed concern over the town absorbing the payment for the project.
Mayor Michael Barber pointed out the funding had previously been approved, and the crossing’s repair has been needed for long period of time.
The proposed project will replace the vehicular railway crossing on Peppers Ferry Road between Bradley Drive NW and Quin W. Stewart Boulevard NW with a full depth rubber panel grade crossing.
Norfolk Southern will furnish all labor costs, overhead and indirect construction costs, materials and supplies, contracted services, transportation, equipment, and other related costs and items required to perform and complete the grade crossing installation, track replacement and administration. The work is tentatively scheduled to be performed on June 28 between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
