SMITH COUNTY, Texas - Smith County Sheriff's Office investigators met with state lawmakers Tuesday to discuss ongoing theft using Cash-to-cryptocurrency terminals, often called "bitcoin ATMs."The machines are being used more often to steal from people, Smith County Sgt. Larry Smith said during the meeting.

Smith said once cash is deposited into the terminals, it is quickly moved into digital wallets, making it difficult to recover.

Officials at the meeting said the money is often routed overseas to countries with weaker financial regulations."The overwhelming victims of these crimes are the elderly, and they are often placed in financial ruin as a result," a Smith County Sheriff's Office release states.