🚨 BREAKING: $230 Million Crypto Heist Leads to Arrests in Major FBI Sting (via ZachXBT)
🚨 BREAKING: $230 Million Crypto Heist Leads to Arrests in Major FBI Sting (via ZachXBT)
Two individuals have been arrested in connection with a sophisticated cryptocurrency theft amounting to over $230 million. The arrests, made by the FBI in Miami and LA ...
On August 19, 2024, a single Genesis creditor became the target of an elaborate social engineering attack orchestrated by Malone Lam (alias "Greavys") and Jeandiel Serrano (alias "Box"), among others. The threat actors employed a multi-pronged strategy:
Spoofed Support Calls: They initiated contact by posing as Google Support to compromise the victim's personal accounts.
Impersonation of Gemini Exchange: Following the initial breach, they called the victim again, this time masquerading as representatives from the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, claiming the victim's account had been hacked.
Manipulation into Transferring Funds: The victim was coerced into resetting their two-factor authentication and transferring funds to a wallet controlled by the attackers.
Screen Sharing Exploit: Utilizing the remote desktop software AnyDesk, the attackers accessed the victim's screen, extracting private keys from Bitcoin Core.
The heist resulted in the unauthorized transfer of significant amounts of Bitcoin:
59.34 BTC on August 19 at 1:48 am UTC
14.88 BTC on August 19 at 2:30 am UTC
4,064 BTC on August 19 at 4:05 am UTC
The stolen funds were quickly laundered through a complex web of transactions involving over 15 cryptocurrency exchanges and conversions between Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Monero to obfuscate the trail.
Crypto investigator @ZachXBT played a pivotal role in unraveling the scheme. Through meticulous tracing of blockchain transactions and analysis of leaked information during screen shares, key suspects were identified:
Malone Lam ("Greavys"): Known for flaunting a lavish lifestyle, he was tracked through social media posts in Los Angeles and Miami. Approximately $3.5 million tied to him was identified in a specific Ethereum address.
Jeandiel Serrano ("Box"): Acted as the fake Gemini support representative. Around $18 million associated with him was located in another Ethereum address.
Veer Chetal ("Wiz"): Received a significant portion of the stolen funds and inadvertently revealed his identity during a screen share. He collaborated with associates to launder the money through platforms like eXch and Thorswap.
The investigative efforts were bolstered by collaborations with organizations such as Crypto Fraud Investigators, Zero Shadow, and the Binance Security Team. Their combined efforts led to the freezing of over $9 million in assets and the return of more than $500,000 to the victim.
On September 19, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia unsealed an indictment against Lam and Serrano. The official statement highlights that they are charged with conspiracy to steal and launder cryptocurrency, spending the proceeds on luxury goods and international travel. The FBI's arrests were part of an ongoing investigation involving multiple field offices and federal agencies.
The unraveling of this high-profile cryptocurrency theft underscores the vulnerabilities that even sophisticated investors face in the digital asset space. As law enforcement agencies ramp up efforts to tackle cybercrime, this case could set a precedent for how such crimes are prosecuted. Investors are urged to exercise heightened vigilance, and the crypto community awaits further developments, which may lead to increased regulatory scrutiny and advancements in security protocols.
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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice or any other kind of professional advice. Before making any investment decisions or taking action on the basis of the information in this article, you should conduct thorough research and consult with a qualified financial advisor. Crypto News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information presented in this article.
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