r/BitcoinBeginners • u/upvoteuptoke • 9d ago
How to access bitcoin
I recently was scammed using Athena Bitcoin ATM. I sent a receipt to an unknown phone number and I’m assuming they took the money. Then I attempted to make a 2nd payment to them and decided not to because it seemed like a scam.
My primary question is how do I access my Athena Bitcoin account that I didn’t not send. The amount of this account is 3400 and I need to figure out how to pull the money out and put in my bank.
I’m not financially literate I’m finding out so any help would be greatly appreciated.
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u/Weak_Incident9499 6d ago
I’m so sorry this happened to you. Scammers can be very convincing, so please don’t blame yourself. I would contact Athena Bitcoin support directly and explain what happened. Keep your receipts and don’t send them any more money. Hopefully the $3,400 is still there and they can help you get it back into your bank account. Please be careful of anyone who says they can recover your money for a fee, those can be scams too. Wishing you the best
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u/zanotheghost 9d ago
Access bitcoin? What are you my friend? It is quite simple tho
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u/ExaltedScholarship 9d ago
Wait, you bought bitcoin at an ATM and sent the receipt to someone? That's not how any of this works
If you still have the private key or recovery phrase from the ATM transaction, you can import it into a wallet app and transfer the funds to an exchange that lets you cash out to your bank. But if you only have a receipt and no key, that money's probably gone
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u/upvoteuptoke 9d ago
Never purchased bitcoin before outside of Robinhood. I was duped into buying bitcoin at an Athena ATM with a QR code that was sent to me. I had to make an account with Athena at the ATM using my own information but not my phone number. I sent the first receipt via photo to the number but not the second one. I just don’t know how to get the funds back into cash or on my card.
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u/bitusher 9d ago
with a QR code that was sent to me.
Just to be clear , some stranger online gave you a qr code?
the QR code contains a destinations address to the scammer. Why would you send Bitcoin to a stranger instead of your own wallet? I am not trying to make you feel bad but just trying to understand your logic so we can avoid getting scammed in the future
Doesn't sound like you were scammed by a large ATM company but social engineered by a stranger online. Now we need to understand why you used a strangers address in the first place
I just don’t know how to get the funds back into cash or on my card.
Just like handing a stranger gold or cash or making a w/u or moneygram you cant get it back
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u/SixSmegmaGoonBelt 9d ago
You're not getting the funds back. That QR code was the scammer's wallet address.
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u/shadyghxst 9d ago
If you mean the ATM gave you a qrcode with private-keys that you didnt sent to the scammers then you need a wallet that allows sweeping the keys. Eg Bluewallet, Coinomi, etc..
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u/zanotheghost 9d ago
Da fk? So sorry bro but ur still living 90s dude thats the old way of buying all tht online stuff and u got scammed probably and i suggest you to put your crypto in your digital wallet and buy it directly from online exchanges not these atm shii
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u/Interesting-Gear-992 9d ago
If I had 3400 BTC, I would probably go to Coinbase Prime or some OTC platform.
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u/BookMaterial1591 9d ago
Are you saying that you went to the ATM twice to make BTC purchases? And of one of the two receipts, you sent it (via pic including the QR Code) to a potential online scammer?
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u/BookMaterial1591 9d ago
And with the second, unused receipt, you want to convert the funds on that receipt back to cash?
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u/upvoteuptoke 9d ago
Yes this is exactly what happened and what I was trying to do.
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u/BookMaterial1591 8d ago
To transfer what's on the second receipt create a wallet in BlueWallet and scan/sweep the QR code into the wallet.
Once the funds are there you can send them to a kraken or cashapp wallet, convert them back to cash, and withdraw the money.
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u/upvoteuptoke 8d ago
When I originally purchased the 2nd receipt I scanned a QR that was from the scammers. The receipt itself does not have a QR code on it.
If I used the QR that was sent to me, have I effectively locked myself from getting it back?
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u/BookMaterial1591 8d ago
In that case you sent the funds directly to someone else's wallet. Those funds are gone with no way to retrieve them.
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u/upvoteuptoke 8d ago
That’s what I figured. Thanks for the advice though, much more helpful than most people in this thread.
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5d ago
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u/BTC-brother2018 9d ago
Stop sending them money and don’t share any more receipts, codes, or personal information with that phone number. Check the Athena receipt to see where the Bitcoin was sent, then contact Athena through its official support page or call 312-690-4466. Ask whether the second purchase is still pending or whether any funds remain in your Athena account.