Victims have reported a scam involving remote computer access, leading to substantial financial loss. One victim was scammed for $14,800, deposited into an Athena Bitcoin ATM (AthenaBitcoin.com).

Details:

• Receiving Address: 14neSXFE1Ubk3VZgjRrKEMVC1G7jexnNTB
• Transaction Amounts: $10,000 and $4,800
• Contact Information: orders@atm.athenabitcoin.com, support@athenabitcoin.com, 1-312-690-4466

If this scheme has scammed you, please share your story to help warn others.

Previous Complaint

This is not the first complaint we’ve received about Athena Bitcoin. The previous complaint about AthenaBitcoin.com was submitted on March 13, 2024, detailing a scam involving a Bitcoin ATM operated by Athena Bitcoin, Inc. In that case, the victim was caring for a child and lost their savings due to a scam under the guise of the Texas US Marshall. The transaction involved a significant amount of Bitcoin sent to the receiving address 3ASEpZq6S7KPcmfvhUjJxhdohV3fUmV2Pf. Given the victim’s vulnerable situation, this scam had a profound emotional impact.

These repeated incidents involving Athena Bitcoin highlight a concerning pattern and suggest a targeted effort to exploit users of their ATM services. The consistent use of their infrastructure and the recurring nature of these scams underscore the need for increased vigilance and preventive measures among users.

If you have been scammed by this scheme, please share your story to help warn others and aid in ongoing investigations.

Receiving Address: 3ASEpZq6S7KPcmfvhUjJxhdohV3fUmV2Pf

This address has been involved in four transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. The total amount received by this address is 0.13183361 BTC, equivalent to approximately $7,946.07. The same amount has been sent out, leaving the current balance at 0 BTC. The transactions involved significant amounts, indicating the address’s use in high-value exchanges:

• Total Received: 0.13183361 BTC ($7,946.07)
• Total Sent: 0.13183361 BTC ($7,946.07)
• Total Volume: 0.26366722 BTC ($15,892.14)

Receiving Address: 14neSXFE1Ubk3VZgjRrKEMVC1G7jexnNTB

This address has recorded two transactions. It has received a total of 0.18008267 BTC, equivalent to approximately $10,854.21, and has sent out the same amount, leaving the balance at 0 BTC. The transactions again point towards high-value activities:

• Total Received: 0.18008267 BTC ($10,854.21)
• Total Sent: 0.18008267 BTC ($10,854.21)
• Total Volume: 0.36016534 BTC ($21,708.41)

Domain Analysis

The domain athenabitcoin.com was registered on August 14, 2015, and is set to expire on August 14, 2024. The registrar is IONOS SE, and the domain has been updated as recently as August 15, 2023. The WHOIS records show that the registrant details are privacy-protected, which is common but can also raise concerns in the context of fraud, making it harder to identify the domain owner. The administrative and technical contacts also use privacy protection.

Athena Bitcoin is hosted by New Dream Network, LLC, also known as DreamHost. The server’s IP address is 69.163.129.223 in Brea, California, United States. DreamHost is a reputable hosting provider, but the choice of a well-known hosting provider does not necessarily reflect the legitimacy of the website’s operations. The choice of a well-known hosting provider may be intended to give an appearance of legitimacy.

AthenaBitcoin.com has a global traffic rank of #3,279,391 and a country rank in the United States of #760,565, with the primary category being Finance > Finance – Other. The website has experienced fluctuations in its traffic, with a recent decrease of 3.55% in total visits. The majority of its traffic comes from organic search (40.99%) and direct visits (30.98%), with the top keywords being “athena bitcoin,” “athena bitcoin.com,” and “athena atm machine total limit.” This traffic pattern indicates that users find the website primarily through search engines or direct navigation, suggesting a degree of established recognition or repeated visits.

AthenaBitcoin.com Review

AthenaBitcoin.com is a comprehensive financial platform that facilitates digital currency and electronic banking use. Their mission is to provide the necessary infrastructure, technology, and expertise for the Bitcoin industry to flourish, with a focus on reliable access and financial inclusion. The website highlights various services, including Bitcoin ATMs, Athena Pay, API integrations, Lightning Network, and Athena Plus. Their ATMs, launched in 2015, allow customers to purchase Bitcoin securely with cash within 90 seconds. Athena Plus offers an over-the-counter (OTC) trading service for high-volume Bitcoin transactions, promoting a personalized and secure trading experience for individuals and institutions.

The website’s “About” section details Athena Bitcoin’s history, starting with the installation of its first ATM in Saint Louis, MO, in 2015. By 2018, it expanded into South America and El Salvador by 2021. The company claims to operate 3,036 ATMs across five countries and has 50 employees. It emphasizes its commitment to financial inclusion and its goal of empowering people to achieve financial sovereignty.

Contact details on the website include multiple customer support channels:

• U.S. Customer Support: 312-690-4466, support@athenabitcoin.com
• Latin America Support: Argentina Support Phone: +54 11 5984-1347
• Business Development Contact: matias@athenabitcoin.com
• Athena Plus Contact: helpdesk@athenacryptoexchange.com

They also maintain a presence on various social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram. The website warns against various Bitcoin scams and provides detailed descriptions of common fraud tactics, advising users on how to avoid falling victim to such schemes.

Red Flags

Despite the professional presentation of Athena Bitcoin’s website, several red flags raise concerns about the legitimacy of their operations:

1. Recurring Scam Reports: Multiple complaints have been received regarding Athena Bitcoin, with victims losing significant amounts of money through scams facilitated by their ATMs. These complaints suggest a pattern of fraudulent activity associated with their services.
2. High-Value Transactions: The Bitcoin addresses linked to these scams have been involved in high-value transactions, indicating that they are being used for significant fraudulent activities. For example, one address received and sent a total of 0.18008267 BTC ($10,854.21), while another had a total volume of 0.26366722 BTC ($15,892.14).
3. Inadequate Customer Protection: The website acknowledges receiving numerous fraud reports but offers limited concrete measures to protect users beyond general advice. This lack of proactive security measures or transparent handling of reported scams is concerning.
4. Use of ATMs for Scams: Bitcoin ATMs provide anonymous and irreversible transactions and are attractive tools for scammers. The website’s emphasis on easy and quick cash-to-Bitcoin transactions could potentially facilitate fraudulent activities.

Athena Bitcoin Reviews

Athena Bitcoin has faced multiple complaints and negative reviews regarding its Bitcoin ATMs and customer service. Reddit and BitTrust users report frequent transaction issues, such as delays or complete failures in receiving Bitcoin after deposits. One Reddit user mentioned, “Last night I went to an Athena Bitcoin ATM located in Hollywood, Florida… I still haven’t received my Bitcoin,” despite waiting 12 hours. Another user confirmed similar experiences: “This is the 3rd time I have had this type of problem, and it is always with Athena.”

The complaints are consistent with those found on BitTrust, where Athena Bitcoin has a 2.05-star rating based on 19 reviews. Users like John and Nikita report that their transactions never reached their wallets and that customer service was unresponsive. John stated, “My transactions never made it to my wallet, and when I called customer service, nobody could help me.” Similarly, Rick said, “I used the ATM machine, and everything was good. My Bitcoin wallet never received the funds.”

Athena Bitcoin’s response times and transaction issues raise serious concerns about their reliability and customer service standards. Users frequently mention unconfirmed transactions and poor support, suggesting systemic problems with their service. Despite the company’s claims of facilitating reliable access to Bitcoin, these consistent negative experiences and lack of resolution indicate significant operational issues that potential users should be aware of.

AthenaBitcoin.com Review Conclusion

Athena Bitcoin is not necessarily a scam but rather a “paradise” for scammers due to its operational vulnerabilities and inadequate customer support. The company’s Bitcoin ATMs and services are intended to facilitate easy and quick access to Bitcoin. However, the persistent issues with transaction delays, unreceived funds, and the lack of prompt customer service response have created an environment where scammers can exploit unsuspecting users.

One reviewer aptly described Athena Bitcoin as a “scammers paradise,” highlighting how fraudsters can manipulate the service’s weaknesses. The company’s infrastructure problems, such as delays and unconfirmed transactions, can be exploited by scammers who confuse and frustrate users. These scammers can deceive users into believing that the issues are part of a legitimate delay, buying themselves time to disappear with the victim’s money.

Furthermore, inadequate customer support often fails to promptly address or resolve issues, leaving users vulnerable. When victims cannot get timely assistance, they are left in the dark about their transactions, making it easier for scammers to perpetrate their schemes without immediate consequences. This lack of reliable support exacerbates the problem, as users feel abandoned and more likely to fall prey to fraudulent schemes.

The Bottom Line Regarding AthenaBitcoin.com

In conclusion, while Athena Bitcoin may not intentionally scam its users, its significant operational flaws and poor customer service make it an attractive target for scammers. This creates a risky environment for users, who may find themselves exploited by fraudsters taking advantage of the company’s weaknesses.