crime

San Francisco has finally turned from the capital of startups into the capital of offline crypto robberies.
This time, the victim was Sam Altman's ex-boyfriend, the founder of OpenAI — and they stole not just anything, but $11 000 000 in crypto.
🔫 The scheme is like in a bad series, only this is reality:
The scammer pretended to be a courier, knocked on the door, and asked to 'sign for the delivery.'

Alexey Pertsev, the founder of the cryptocurrency anonymization service Tornado Cash, is facing charges from Dutch authorities for alleged involvement in laundering a sum of $1.2 billion.
Alexey Pertsev Accused of Over Thirty Illegal Acts
Tornado Cash is increasingly coming under scrutiny for its association with cryptocurrency crime, rather than providing intended services. Dutch investigators have been tracking Pertsev in connection with a series of investigations, including 36 suspicious transactions. Among the most prominent was 175 ETH transferred from the Ronin Bridge crypto protocol, linked to Axie Infinity.
Other illegal transactions subject to Dutch prosecutors' charges include transactions via decentralized protocols Harmony and Nomad Bridge.
Keith Cheng, lawyer for Alexey Pertsev, stated that "prosecutors accuse Pertsev of money laundering and generally describe it, but do not specify the specific acts allegedly committed."
Dutch authorities, however, strongly accuse Pertsev of involvement in money laundering. This claim gains weight considering that Pertsev was arrested in August 2022 by the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) on suspicion of laundering $7 billion in cryptocurrencies.
OFAC Sanctions Against Tornado Cash
Before Pertsev's arrest, Tornado Cash was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury for involvement in money laundering totaling several billion dollars. Among the organizations accused of using Tornado Cash services was the North Korean hacking group Lazarus.
Pertsev was arrested shortly after these sanctions, but was later released on bail. In August of the following year, he was arrested again, this time on charges of money laundering, with the arrest conducted by the FBI. This occurred at a time when the cryptographic detective ZachXBT reported tracking a suspicious wallet linked to Tornado Cash since the beginning of 2023.
Since his first arrest in 2022, Pertsev has vehemently denied any involvement in money laundering or violations of money laundering laws.
The trial of Alexey Pertsev is scheduled for March 26 in the Netherlands.
#crypto #crime

Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

A federal police officer from Australia denies allegations of unauthorized confiscation of bitcoins from a hardware wallet at the scene of intervention and their transfer to the Binance cryptocurrency exchange.
The Australian anti-corruption agency (NACC) accused this federal police officer of emptying the Trezor hardware wallet, containing 81.62 bitcoins, at the scene of the incident. To support their claim that the bitcoins were transferred to his ownership, authorities relied on cryptocurrency tracking programs.
Raid Reveals an Empty Wallet
According to recent information, the police discovered the wallet during a drug raid at the accused's house, but waited approximately three weeks for a court order to open it. When it was finally opened, there were no bitcoins inside the wallet, as Federal Detective William Wheatley likely transferred them shortly after the raid.
At the time of the raid in 2019, the wallet was valued at $309,000, but its value now stands at approximately $4.2 million.
Tracking and Disclosure: Significance of Cryptocurrency Software
Detective Sergeant Deon Achtypis from the cybercrime unit stated that authorities initially suspected someone from a criminal syndicate might be responsible for the bitcoin theft.
Suspicion fell on Wheatley after the discovery of the wallet's recovery phrase device, a series of 12 to 24 random words used to regain access in case of wallet loss or theft.
Extensive investigation of IP addresses used to access the stolen bitcoins through cryptocurrency tracking software eventually led Achtypis to Wheatley.
Disclosure and Legal Ramifications
"I judge that a member of the police force may have been involved in cryptocurrency manipulation."
Globally, law enforcement agencies are adopting cryptocurrency tracking software to uncover illegal activities associated with digital currencies.
In August 2023, Canadian law enforcement agencies announced the initiation of using Chainalysis Reactor software to track illegal crypto transactions.
Furthermore, the development of encryption detective software leads to higher success in recovering stolen cryptocurrencies. On January 29, over $674 million was retrospectively recovered from over 600 major cryptocurrency hacks.

Defense of the Accused
Meanwhile, Wheatley maintains his innocence in the accusations of abuse of public office for personal gain, theft, and involvement in criminal activity.
He is determined to face charges related to the stolen bitcoins from the Trezor wallet, which occurred at a time when Trezor reported a security flaw affecting nearly 66,000 users.
On January 1, it was announced that Trezor detected unauthorized access to a third-party support portal on January 17, warning of potential user data compromise for those who communicated with the Trezor support team since December 2021.
 $BTC
#Bitcoin #crime #Australia #BTC
 
 
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“
 
 

A shocking $230 million cryptocurrency heist is under investigation, with new evidence suggesting it may be tied to a Connecticut kidnapping involving a high-net-worth investor. According to recently released court documents, the target was lured by hackers who exploited vulnerabilities to seize control of digital assets in what appears to be one of the largest crypto-related thefts ever.
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The Crime 🕵️‍♂️💻
The heist, which took place earlier this year, involved the theft of cryptocurrencies and digital assets totaling over $230 million. Investigators believe that the criminals targeted an investor who had amassed a large crypto fortune. The attackers allegedly used sophisticated techniques to access wallets and steal the funds.
However, what makes this case even more bizarre is the alleged kidnapping that coincided with the heist. The Connecticut-based victim was reportedly kidnapped and held hostage while the cybercriminals siphoned the funds out of their accounts. The investigators are currently working to connect the dots between the physical and cyber components of this crime.
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How the Heist Was Pulled Off 🔓
Court documents indicate that the hackers employed advanced methods to exploit security weaknesses. While exact details are still under wraps, it is speculated that a combination of phishing schemes, SIM swaps, and social engineering were used to compromise the investor’s account credentials. Once inside the victim’s crypto wallet, the criminals were able to transfer the funds into anonymous accounts that are hard to trace.
The CT kidnapping added another layer of complexity to the case, as the criminals used it to apply pressure on the victim to cooperate, which likely sped up the transfer of funds.
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High Net-Worth Target 🎯
The heist focused on a high-net-worth individual, emphasizing the growing risks faced by wealthy investors in the cryptocurrency space. With fortunes tied to decentralized assets, these investors are increasingly becoming the prime targets of criminal syndicates. Unlike traditional banking systems, where transactions can be reversed or traced, crypto heists often result in irrecoverable losses due to the anonymous and irreversible nature of blockchain transactions.
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Broader Implications for Crypto Security 🔐
This incident has raised concerns about the security infrastructure of cryptocurrencies and the methods investors use to store their assets. While some individuals rely on hardware wallets and cold storage, many investors are still vulnerable to phishing attacks, SIM swaps, and other forms of social engineering.
👇👇👇
$USDC
The case also highlights the importance of regulation and security awareness in the crypto space. As criminals become more creative in their methods, investors must adopt robust security practices to protect themselves. Multi-factor authentication, hardware wallets, and avoiding sharing sensitive information online are key preventive measures.
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Ongoing Investigation 🔍
Authorities are continuing to pursue the case, both in terms of identifying the perpetrators of the cybercrime and the kidnapping. They are also attempting to trace the stolen funds across multiple blockchain platforms. The collaboration between law enforcement agencies, cybersecurity experts, and blockchain analysts is crucial in tracking down the stolen assets.
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Final Thoughts 🛡️
As the investigation unfolds, this case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with digital assets. The crypto world is rife with opportunities for massive gains, but it also presents serious vulnerabilities. Investors—especially high-net-worth individuals—should remain vigilant, and the industry at large must continue to improve security measures to safeguard against similar heists.
This $230 million heist, coupled with a physical kidnapping, is a chilling illustration of how cybercrime is evolving. The case is ongoing, and further developments are expected as investigators dig deeper into the web of this complex crime.
#crime #USRetailSalesBoost #BTCSoarsTo68K #MemeCoinTrending #TeslaTransferBTC

It is time for a federal judge to decide on the length of the sentence for Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX. Both the defense and the U.S. Department of Justice have presented their arguments, as well as statements from FTX creditors and close friends and family of Bankman-Fried.
Emotional Impact on Both Sides
Prosecution and defense representatives have now provided their perspectives on the sentence to the judge, including emotional arguments gleaned from letters from people associated with FTX and Bankman-Fried. The key question is whether Sam Bankman-Fried should be sentenced to decades in prison, as the U.S. Department of Justice desires, or if his punishment should be more lenient, as suggested by the defense.
Consideration of Evidence and Behavior
Judge Lewis Kaplan will have to consider various factors, including letters from Bankman-Fried's family, former FTX employees, and former customers. These materials offer insight into the impact of FTX's collapse on its customers and on Bankman-Fried himself.
Arguments For and Against Severe Punishment
While the defense argues that Bankman-Fried faces enormous personal consequences and should not be harshly punished, the Department of Justice emphasizes his deliberate violation of the law and doubts about his efforts to remedy the damage.
Impact on FTX Victims
In statements about the impact on victims submitted by the Department of Justice, former FTX customers describe how the exchange's collapse affected their finances and lives. These statements reveal how deeply FTX's collapse affected the lives of many people.
Technical vs. Emotional Compensation
While the defense claims that FTX customers will be fully compensated after the bankruptcy proceedings, several creditors point out that they will only receive the value of their cryptocurrencies as of November 2022, not the potential profits they could have had. The letters also state that refunding the funds will not compensate for the time when customers did not have access to them.
Judge's Decision
Among other factors likely to be considered by Judge Kaplan are Bankman-Fried's behavior during the process, testimonies, and the possibility that he could again violate the law. The defense emphasizes that the government is trying to break Bankman-Fried and warns against a punishment that is too harsh, which would abuse him even if he could theoretically commit fraud again.
Sentencing Date
Sam Bankman-Fried is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, and the judge's decision will be a pivotal moment not only for him, but also for his family.
#SBF #trial #crime #crypto

Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Breaking news 📢📢
Alex Mashinsky, the former CEO of Celsius, has agreed to relinquish all claims to the assets of the bankrupt crypto lender, facilitating further distributions to creditors. This agreement, submitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, bars Mashinsky and three associated entities from receiving any bankruptcy proceeds. All claims made by Mashinsky will be withdrawn and will not receive any distribution under the Chapter 11 plan. Consequently, he and his related entities will be permanently excluded from any recovery in the Celsius bankruptcy, allowing the reserved assets to be redistributed to other creditors. The court will maintain oversight of the distribution process while Mashinsky serves a 12-year prison sentence for defrauding customers and manipulating the CEL token's price. Celsius filed for Chapter 11 in July 2022 due to a liquidity crisis and has since transitioned to a recovery-focused entity, distributing over $2.5 billion to around 251,000 creditors by August 2024.