Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection says residents should not assume they are ineligible.
AUGUSTA, Maine — State officials and advocates are urging Maine residents who lost money in bitcoin-related scams to apply for refunds before an April 1 deadline.
AARP Maine and the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection said eligible consumers may be able to recover losses through a $1.9 million settlement reached after a two-year investigation into bitcoin kiosk activity across the state.
The bureau, with assistance from the Maine Attorney General’s Office, reached an agreement with a bitcoin kiosk operator to reimburse consumers who experienced fraud at select kiosks.
“Scammers often pressure people to act quickly and secretly, and bitcoin kiosks have become a common tool in these schemes,” Jane Margesson, senior communications director with AARP Maine, said in a press release. “If you or someone you know lost money because of a bitcoin scam, this settlement may provide a rare opportunity to recover those losses — but the deadline to apply is coming up fast.”
Edward Myslik, a principal consumer credit examiner with the bureau, said residents should not assume they are ineligible.
“Mainers who were victimized by these scams should not assume they are ineligible,” Myslik said. “We encourage anyone who believes they may have been affected to review the information and submit an application as soon as possible.”
Officials said eligible consumers can apply for refunds from the settlement fund before the April 1 deadline. More information, including eligibility requirements and application details, is available through the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection.
Consumers with questions can contact the bureau by phone, and additional scam prevention resources are available through the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
Read More: Deadline nears to claim refunds from $1.9M bitcoin scam settlement in Maine
