๐จ *He was just 15โฆ and stole 24 MILLION.*
What started as teen curiosity turned into one of the *biggest SIM swap scams in history.*
Hereโs the insane story of how it happened ๐
โ
*๐ง The Mastermind: Joseph James OโConnor (aka PlugWalkJoe)*
At just *15 years old*, Joe figured out how to pull off *SIM swapping* โ a method where hackers trick telecom providers into transferring someoneโs phone number to a SIM card they control.
That SIM gives them access to SMS-based *2FA (two-factor authentication)* โ and from there, they can hijack *crypto wallets, emails, and even social media accounts.*
โ
*๐ธ The24M Jackpot*
In 2019, Joe and his crew SIM-swapped a crypto entrepreneur.
They *emptied wallets* worth over *$24 million* in a matter of hours.
Then? He *flew private*, spent on *escorts, penthouses, and designer gear* like a mini Wolf of Wall Street.
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*๐ How It All Crashed*
Joeโs *own partner* turned on him โ leaking details to U.S. authorities.
He was arrested in Spain in 2021 and *extradited to the U.S.*
In 2023, he was sentenced to *5 years in federal prison*.
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*โ ๏ธ The Lesson: SIM Swaps Are STILL a Huge Threat*
Even in 2025, SIM swaps are one of the easiest ways to steal millions.
๐ If you have serious crypto holdings, donโt use *SMS 2FA*. Use *hardware keys (Yubikey, Ledger),* not your phone.
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๐ *From a teenage millionaire to a federal inmateโฆ*
*OโConnorโs story is a warning for every trader & investor.*
XRP
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POL
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-1.58%
0.01098
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#CryptoSecurity #SIMSwap #ScamAlert #PlugWalkJoe #CryptoHistory
