The top city prosecutor in Washington, D.C., claims an ATM provider is enabling a crypto scam where victims think they're protecting their money by buying bitcoin. One woman says she was a victim of the scam.

Silver Spring

A retiree from Maryland, Diane Reynolds, lost $13,100 after falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam. The scam began when a fake security warning appeared on her computer, instructing her to convert her savings into Bitcoin at a kiosk operated by Athena Bitcoin. Reynolds followed the instructions and deposited her cash, only to later discover it was a scam.

Athena Bitcoin, which operates thousands of crypto ATMs nationwide, is now facing lawsuits from both Reynolds and the Washington DC Attorney General. The lawsuits allege that Athena failed to implement adequate anti-fraud measures and profited from transaction fees on fraudulent transfers. Athena denies the allegations, stating that it uses strong safety protocols and warnings.

Woman says she lost thousands in a crypto scam

There was a voice message that was coming on with this and said, don't turn your computer on. Don't turn your computer off. Last summer, a simple click turned into a nightmare. Maryland retiree Diane Reynolds was online when her screen froze and a warning popped up. Access has been blocked for security reasons and for your safety and call this number. But that number wasn't tech support. It was a scammer. He claimed hackers had her bank account information and told her the only way to save her money was to convert it to encrypted Bitcoin. How much money did he tell you to take out? $13,100. Reynolds went to her bank, withdrew the cash and followed instructions to a gas station to this kiosk run by a company called Athena Bitcoin. And this is the only proof that you have that you put $13,000 plus into that machine. That is it. Athena Bitcoin operates more than 4,000 crypto ATMs nationwide. They look like regular ATMs, but instead of cash, they convert your money into untraceable crypto. Critics say scammers are using them to steal millions, mostly from seniors. Bitcoin ATMs are a tool that scammers, that criminals are using to separate people, including DC residents, from their hard-earned money. Washington DC Attorney General Brian Schwab is suing Athena. Athena, as a Bitcoin operator, knows that its kiosks are being used by this element and yet have failed to put proper anti-fraud prevention systems in place to keep it from happening. And what makes it worse is they're profiting from this because they're charging very substantial fees. Those findings, according to the AG, mean that every time someone is scammed, Athena, with a strict no-refund policy, gets a cut. And now Reynolds herself is suing. Von Stewart is her attorney. Are you alleging that the incentive to prevent this is not there because they do make so much on these transaction fees? They're not just allowing the fraud to happen. They're profiting from it. And it's in their financial best interest to allow as many scams to happen as possible. Athena denied our requests for an interview. In a written statement, the company says it strongly disagrees with the DC lawsuit, insisting it employs aggressive safety protocols, including prominent on-screen warnings. Reynolds says her experience left her shaken and determined to speak out. Now I'm an advocate for just telling people, you know, this is real. Be aware.

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas in eastern Gaza on Thursday (October 30), Palestinian residents and witnesses said, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel strikes Gaza after asserting commitment to ceasefire

In the Netherlands, the centrist D66 party looks on course to beat the far right in the national election. Exit polls have predicted Rob Jetten's party will claim victory, which could lead him to become the country's youngest ever prime minister.

Amsterdam

Dutch centrist party wins big in election as far right loses support

President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military on Thursday (October 30) to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, minutes before beginning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Washington

Trump tells Pentagon to resume testing U.S. nuclear weapons

President Trump said he's reached a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping that could be signed "very soon." Mr. Trump says the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods by 10% as China works to reduce the flow of fentanyl.

Global Tariffs

Trump says he's reached a deal with China's Xi

President Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is their first face-to-face since Mr. Trump returned to the White House. Jessi Mitchell anchors this Special Report.

Gyeongju-si

Trump, Xi Jinping meet face-to-face in South Korea over trade

The Bank of Canada made a 25-basis-point cut to its key interest rate while governor Tiff Macklem suggested rates will hold where they are as long as inflation stays in the target range of two per cent.

Ottawa

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 2.25%

After leaving Jamaica with widespread power outages and flooding, Melissa caused fatal flooding in Haiti that has killed 25 people and hit Cuba with a storm surge.

Port-au-Prince

Hurricane Melissa causes floods in Haiti, killing at least 25

Fentanyl production tops the agenda as the U.S. and China discuss curbing exports tied to the deadly opioid crisis.

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President Putin announced that the Poseidon super torpedo was successfully tested and cannot be intercepted, marking a new stage in Russia’s naval capabilities.

Moscow

Russia says its successfully tested nuclear-capable underwater drone

The Justice Department has put D.C. prosecutors on leave after they submitted a court memo describing those who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as "rioters." The filing was in a case involving Taylor Taranto, who was part of the Capitol riot and is currently facing unrelated weapons charges.

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Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Illinois

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President Donald Trump is sending America's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean to help stop small boats he says are transporting drugs to the U.S. Trump says the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with Venezuelan drug cartels.

U.S. masses more naval forces off coast of Venezuela

The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will lower its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in its second straight cut.

Fed lowers interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

The police operation was one of the most violent in Brazil’s recent history, with human rights organizations calling for investigations into the deaths.

Rio de Janeiro

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Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday after ripping through Jamaica. CBS News' Jarred Hill has more details.

Havana

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba after slamming Jamaica

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in South Korea on Wednesday (October 29) for the final leg of his Asia trip, optimistic about striking a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping after summit talks with South Korea's Lee Jae Myung.

Busan

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The U.S. Embassy in Mali is urging all American citizens to leave the country immediately, warning of rising terror threats and a worsening fuel crisis caused by a jihadi blockade.

Bamako

U.S. Embassy urges Americans to leave Mali immediately

Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza on Tuesday (October 28) after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, marking the latest test of a fragile deal brokered earlier this month by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Israel strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating ceasefire

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said on Tuesday (October 28) that the artificial intelligence chip leader will build seven new supercomputers for the U.S. Department of Energy, and said the company has $500 billion in bookings for its AI chips.

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25 states are suing the Trump administration to stop federal food aid from being suspended amid the government shutdown. All but two of those states, Nevada and Vermont, have a democratic governor.

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A federal judge is ordering a top Border Patrol official in charge of operations in Chicago to give nightly reports to the court after agents were accused of potentially violating limits on their arrest and crowd control tactics.

Chicago

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The U.S. military struck four more alleged drug vessels on Monday, killing at least 14 people and leaving one survivor. It marks the 11th time in under two months the U.S. has carried out strikes on vessels allegedly trafficking narcotics.

Caracas

Latest U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats kill at least 14 people

Major League Baseball says it's weighing a ban on all prop betting, which is a wager on an individual player or event that isn't necessarily tied to the outcome.

Los Angeles

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he has ordered the military to carry out powerful strikes on the Gaza Strip. This comes after Israel accused Hamas of violating their fragile peace deal by returning the wrong remains of a hostage.

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Hurricane Melissa, a massive Category 5 storm, made landfall in Jamaica, barreling in from the Atlantic with 185 mph sustained winds, the National Hurricane Center said. CBS News meteorologist Jessica Burch has more.

Kingston

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Jamaica

The ASEAN bloc of Southeast Asian nations and China signed an upgrade to their free trade agreement, which includes sections on digital, the green economy and other new industries, Beijing's Commerce Ministry said.

Kuala Lumpur

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President Trump met with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday and signed a trade agreement that the countries made over the summer. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has the latest.

Tokyo

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Argentina's president, Javier Milei's party, has won a decisive victory in Sunday's mid-term elections. The vote is seen as a support for his economic reforms and drastic austerity measures. In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump had pledged a 40-billion-dollar bailout to bolster Argentina's failing economy and had endorsed Milei publicly.

Buenos Aires

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Venezuela is accusing the U.S. of preparing a false flag attack as the U.S. continues to escalate its military presence in the Caribbean after carrying out multiple deadly strikes on boats the Trump administration said were carrying drugs.

Breakdown