crime
$3.6B Worth Bitcoins Scam, Founders of South African Crypto Exchange Africrypt Are Missing
The total value of $3.6 billion Bitcoins disappeared while the founders of South African cryptocurrency exchange AfriCrypt are missing.
We Have Sufficient Evidence to Identify Actors Behind Massive Hack on Crypto Exchange, says KuCoin CEO
KuCoin CEO has announced that they have found sufficient evidence to identify the criminals behind the massive $280 million hack on the crypto exchange.
Property or Not? Bitcoin Thieves Released Because “Bitcoin is Not Property”
A Russian Court recently ruled a Bitcoin theft case as innocent, stating that Bitcoin was not considered a property. The victim sought restitution, after being robbed of 100 Bitcoins.
Silk Road Programmer Pleads Guilty for Covering Up His Darknet Involvement to FBI and IRS
Silk Road computer programmer Michael R. Weigand pleaded guilty for providing false statements regarding his involvement with the darknet marketplace.
Ransomware Gang Evil Corp Group Strikes Again with New Ransomware WastedLocker
A ransomware gang called Evil Corp Group is back in action again, after having been in retirement for an undetermined period of time. The malware hacker group strikes again by developing a ransom software dubbed WastedLocker.
Hackers Steal Cryptos from General Bytes Bitcoin ATM via Zero-day Bug
Crypto ATM manufacturer General Bytes has confirmed that its infrastructures have been hacked using a zero-day vulnerability in server ports to steal cryptocurrencies from customers.
Spike in COVID-19 Cybercrime Is Stimulating Mass Adoption of Blockchain in Asia
With COVID-19 forcing businesses to adopt digital means of transacting, there is a spike in blockchain adoption, Bitcoin price surge, rise in Bitcoin scams.
Microsoft Takes Down COVID-19 Cyber Criminals to Eliminate "Business Email Compromise" Attacks
Scammers have been taking advantage of COVID-19 and the worldwide economic crisis revolving around it to retrieve personal information and phish data from Microsoft users.
Accused Co-Founder of $9 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme Declares Not Guilty in Court
The co-founder of Zima Digital Assets, Zachary Salter and his associate, 28-year-old John Caruso jointly declared not guilty to charges of money laundering and conspiracy to attempt wire fraud during arraignment in an Arizona court on March 4.
Uber’s Former Security Chief Charged for Using $100K Bitcoin Hush Payment to Hide Data Breach
Former Chief Security Officer at Uber, Joseph Sullivan, has been charged with allegedly paying $100K in Bitcoin to hackers to cover up a company data breach.
Lawyers for SBF time to discuss additional bail conditions
Sam Bankman-lawyers Fried's requested extra time to negotiate bail terms and identify a technical expert.
IRS Expects Surge in Crypto Tax Crime Cases as Tax Season Concludes
The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is bracing for an increase in crypto tax crime cases as taxpayers file their returns on April 15. IRS criminal investigation chief Guy Ficco predicts a rise in charged Title 26 crypto cases this year and beyond. While crypto has been associated with various financial crimes in the past, Ficco anticipates a surge in "pure crypto tax crimes" in the future.
Greece Council of State Rules for the Extradition of a Russian Bitcoin Laundering Suspect to France
Greece Council of State has ruled in favor of the order to extradite a Russian bitcoin laundering suspect named Alexander Vinnik, A.K.A "Mr. Bitcoin" to France, as reported by Greece Greek Reporter.
U.S. Justice Department Seizes $9M in Crypto from Romance Scam Ring
The U.S. Justice Department successfully seizes $9M in crypto from a scam ring targeting over 70 victims, showcasing the government's commitment to combating cyber-enabled financial fraud.
Hong Kong Customs Arrests Four Men in Alleged $155M Crypto Laundering
Hong Kong Customs announced Thursday that the authority had dismantled a local cryptocurrency money-laundering syndicate involving HK$1.2 billion ($US 155 million). The operation is considered the first case for the same kind in the city.
Cybersecurity Firm Kaspersky Warns of New Ransomware Devised by Notorious North Korean Ransomware Group
Multinational cybersecurity provider Kaspersky has announced that the notorious North Korean crypto criminal group, Lazarus, is planning on releasing a new ransomware.
FTX Officials Says the Exchange Has Been Compromised by Hackers
Despite being the most embattled exchange, FTX has suffered a multi-million cyberattack
Randall Crater, Founder of "My Big Coin" Sentenced
A U.S. Federal Court Judge sentenced Randall Crater to 100 months in prison. Crater defrauded 55 investors with $7.6 million.
Man Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Bitcoin from Silk Road
James Zhong, who stole more than 51,680 Bitcoin from Silk Road in 2012, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for wire fraud charges. The Bitcoin was worth roughly $3.4 billion at the time of its seizure in November 2021.
CipherTrace Life Hack for Criminal Investigations: How to Know if Cryptocurrency Was Utilized
CipherTrace blockchain analytics firm has revealed guidelines that could help law enforcement identify that cryptocurrency was used for illicit activities.
FBI Arrests 2 Hackers for Ransomware and “Crypto-Jacking” Scams, 5 Chinese Suspects Still at Large
The DoJ and the FBI seized two criminals connected to a cybercrime targeting over 100 companies in the US and abroad with ransomware, crypto jacking and more.
DoJ Charges BitClub Promoter for Role in $722 Million Crypto Fraud Scheme
A Californian man pleaded guilty for his involvement in perpetrating BitClub Network, a cryptocurrency mining scheme that generated at least $722 million.
Japanese Exchange Liquid Exchange Hacked, $80M Cryptocurrency Assets Transferred for Safety
Online cryptocurrency exchange Liquid Exchange was attacked by hackers and transferred approximately $80 million worth of cryptocurrency, confirmed by the exchange.
Kakao Affiliates Face Probe Over Crypto Misappropriation Allegations
Prosecution delves into allegations of cryptocurrency embezzlement & breach of trust against ex-Kakao chairman & affiliate executives, marking the start of a formal inquiry with the examination of the complainant on Oct 11.
Bitzlato crypto firm taken down
Europol: 46% of Bitzlato assets were unlawful. U.S. and European authorities confiscated $19.5 million in cryptocurrencies from crypto wallets.
Finland Tracks Monero in High-Profile Cybercrime Cas
Finnish authorities traced Monero transactions in the Julius Aleksanteri Kivimäki trial, highlighting challenges in tracking privacy-focused digital currencies, a significant development in cryptocurrency-related cybercrime investigations.
Swindlers are Using OTP Bots to Wipe Clean Crypto Accounts
Be cautious of fraudsters are becoming sophisticated by the day, with their latest tool being one-time password (OTP) bots used to wipe out cryptocurrency accounts.
OpenSea Confirms Under Phishing Attack, after Urging Users to Migrate NFTs New Addresses
Some of the users from OpenSea have been targeted explicitly through a phishing attack, resulting in NFTs lost from the NFT marketplace.
First Bitcoin Mixer Slapped with $60M Fine by FinCEN in Money Laundering Crackdown
FinCEN charged a Bitcoin-mixing operator with a $60 million civil money penalty for violating anti-money laundering regulations.
Finland Seeking Brokers for Selling $79M Bitcoin Seized from Illegal Drug Market
Finland government is looking for brokers to help the administration to enable the safe selling of seized Bitcoins.
US Seizes $24M in Cryptocurrencies Tied to Brazilian Investment Fraud Probe
The US Department of Justice has seized $24 million in cryptocurrencies following investigations linked to online investment fraud.
South Koreans transacted $4.3 billion through illegal crypto exchanges
In 2022, South Koreans transacted $4.3 billion through illegal crypto exchanges, comprising almost 70% of all illicit money traffic captured by officers. The transactions aimed to purchase foreign virtual assets to sell in the country later due to the South Korean regulatory regime isolating the local market.
Nigeria's Central Bank Freezes Bank Accounts Linked to Suspected Illegal Crypto Traders
The central bank of Nigeria has ordered a directive to freeze the bank accounts associated with two individuals and a firm suspected of illegally engaging in crypto trading.
Ransomware Masterminds Arrested in Ukraine in Joint Investigative Operation
A joint strike action between Europol and other international crime enforcement agencies has led to the arrest of two ransomware gang members.
Eastern Europe Hotbed For Darknet As Ransomware Activity Increases
A recent study from Chainalysis has found that darknet operators are responsible for a disproportionately large share of the crypto market in Eastern Europe.
Naoris Protocol Secures $11.5 m Funding, Enhancing Web3 Networks Security
Cybersecurity protocol Naoris raised the funding with $11.5 million, which it mentions will enable it to revamp network security for the Web3 world.
Beanstalk Stablecoin Protocol Suffers $80M Loss in Hacking
An emerging Ethereum stablecoin protocol, Beanstalk has come off as the latest blockchain startup that suffered a breach from hackers with a massive loss of $80 million moved from the protocol.
Illicit Transaction Activity Hit All-time High in Value in 2021: Chainalysis
The latest report suggests cryptocurrency-based crime hit a new all-time high in 2021, with illicit addresses receiving $14 billion in 2021, which amount was doubled to 2020, according to Chainalysis.
Tether Criticizes UN Report for Overlooking USDT Traceability and Law Enforcement Collaboration
Tether rebuts a UN report accusing USDT of facilitating illicit activities, underscoring its traceability and law enforcement collaboration, and highlighting USDT's positive impact on developing economies.
Cream Finance Promise to Refund Stolen Funds in its $462M Protocol Exploit
Cream Finance has plans to refund victims of its latest network attack.
US Intelligence Reveals Extent of North Korea’s “Hidden Cobra” Crypto-Dependent Cyber Crimes
US Intelligence Reveals Extent of North Korea’s “Hidden Cobra” Crypto-Dependent Cyber Crimes
Twitter Massive Hack Attack Traced Back to Crypto Wallet Using BitPay and Coinbase
In the massive Bitcoin scheme that happened earlier this week, reputed coin exchanges such as Binance, Gemini, and Coinbase were targeted by crypto scammers, and officials have been hard at work investigating the digital trail that may lead back to the crypto scammers.
Binance Contributes to Recovery and Return of $10,000 of Stolen Crypto To a Targeted Investor
Binance affiliate crypto security expert Harry Denley helped a victim recover $10, 000 worth of lost cryptocurrency recently.
Dark Web Sucks in Bitcoin Payments From Viewers Paying to See Livestream Murder
Two 17-year-old Italians have been detained under the Delirium operation for instigating child pornography and live torture viewings on the dark web. The two Italians paid Bitcoin (BTC) to a dark site address in order to unlock explicit footage of children being sexually abused.
Two Canadian Nationals Face Two Years in US Prison for Alleged Bitcoin Fraud
The US Department of Justice has sentenced two Canadian nationals to two years in the US federal prison for using a fake Twitter account to steal Bitcoins from an innocent US victim.
Russian Hacker Sentenced to 5 years of Prison for Money Laundering, Cybercrimes, and Extortion
Russian Hacker Alexander Vinnik has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by a Parisian court. The judgment may be appealed as noted by Vinnik's lawyer.
$4 Billion Laundered by Criminals through DEXs, Elliptic Report Shows
Elliptic's report suggested that criminals have laundered the total sum of $4 billion through Decentralized Exchanges (DEXs), bridges, and protocols offering Coin Swaps.
Binance Collaborates with Royal Thai Police to Disrupt Criminal Networks
Binance, in conjunction with the Royal Thai Police, has successfully disrupted major crypto fraudulent networks in Thailand through two significant operations. The collaboration led to the arrest of key individuals and substantial asset seizures, underscoring Binance's proactive stance against cybercrime and its ongoing commitment to enhancing security within the digital asset ecosystem.
Ransomware Group Demands $4M in Bitcoin from Argentina, Border Activity Halted for 4 Hours
A Bitcoin ransomware attack was directed towards Argentina’s immigration agency, halting border crossing temporarily.
At Least $150M Stolen by Hackers: BitMart CEO Confirms; While Security Firm Estimates More
BitMart experienced a large-scale security breach in which hackers were able to withdraw assets valued at up to approximately $150m, according to the cryptocurrency trading platform's CEO.
EBA Issues Updated Guidelines for Crypto Asset Service Providers
The European Banking Authority (EBA) extends Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing measures to include crypto firms, aiming to harmonize regulatory approaches and mitigate financial crime risks in the EU.
US Treasury Department Believed to be Hacked by Russians, Bitcoin Bulls Respond “BTC Never Gets Hacked”
The US Treasury Department has been on the receiving line of a huge security breach that saw their internal servers targeted.
Ransomware Group Strikes Again: Canon Takes a Hit
Canon recently suffered a cyber attack where approximately 10 terabytes of files, photos and data were stolen.
Jack Daniel’s Parent Company Brown-Forman Targeted for Ransomware by Notorious REvil
Brown-Forman, Jack Daniel’s parent company and a giant powerhouse in the alcoholic industry, recently suffered a ransomware data breach originating from REvil.
OneCoin Founder Ruja Ignatova Added to FBI's Most Wanted List
Ruja Ignatova, the fraudulent ‘CryptoQueen’ as she is known has been placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) list of the ten most wanted criminals
Tether Implements Wallet-Freezing Policy Aligned with US Regulations
Tether's wallet-freezing policy, in line with US OFAC regulations, is a proactive approach to cybercrime, setting a new standard in the crypto industry.
Hotbit Suspends Trading, Withdrawals amid Criminal Investigation
Crypto exchange Hotbit announced it had suspended all financial and trading services as part of the capital was frozen by watchdogs that a former employer was involved in a criminal case that is under investigation.
Ripple Impersonated by Scammers in a Fraudulent “XRP Incentive Plan” Token Giveaway
Cryptocurrency scammers have been capitalizing on Ripple’s success by rolling out a new XRP giveaway initiative that proved to be fraudulent.
Walmart Clarifies False report, Not Accepting any Litecoin for Payment
On Monday, retailer Walmart issued a clarification to debunk a false report concerning a partnership between Walmart and Litecoin (LTC). Walmart stated that it has no relationship with Litecoin.
About 6,000 Users Falls Trap as Victims under Phishing Attack: Coinbase
The Nasdaq-listed trading platform, Coinbase, says about 6,000 of its users were suffering as victims of a phishing attack that saw user's balances cleared.
Hackers Hungry for Bitcoin and Ether Target Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency hackers seized the social media account of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi today, in an effort to secure Bitcoin and Ether funds.
CoinList Settles with OFAC for $1.2 Million Over Crimea Sanctions Violations
CoinList settles with OFAC for $1.2 million over transactions for users in Crimea, promising to invest $300,000 in compliance enhancements.
Chinese Crypto Investors Orchestrated Digital Heist to Recuperate Lost Crypto
China-based crypto investors launched a cryptocurrency scam of their own, after having been defrauded themselves.
New York Lawmakers to Make Rug Pulls in Crypto a Crime
The State of New York may soon make a move to christen “Rug Pulls” in the digital currency ecosystem an offence, should a bill dubbed Senate Bill S8839 be passed into law.
Peter Schiff’s Bank Investigated in Global Tax Evasion Probe, Gold May Be Dirty
Peter Schiff’s Euro Pacific Bank is currently under a tax evasion probe for hosting numerous financial accounts suspected of tax evasion crimes.
US Army Reveals That North Korea Has A Legion of 6,000 Hackers Working for the Nation
In a tactical report, the US Army unveiled that North Korea possessed government-based divisions assigned to cryptocurrency and crypto cybercrimes.
US House Committee to Probe Crypto Crimes in November Hearing
The US House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing today, November 15, 2023, to examine illicit cryptocurrency activities, including money laundering and terrorist financing, and discuss the Department of Justice's focus on these crimes.
Darknet AlphaBay Moderator Paid in Bitcoin Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
A darknet moderator for marketplace AlphaBay has been apprehended by law officials and sentenced to 11 years in prison.
Browser Extensions Used by Scammers to Steal Bitcoin
The CEO of Casa takes his time to demonstrate how browser extensions can be used to launch a cyberattack to steal Bitcoin. He emphasized on cyber consciousness and cybersecurity.
US DOJ Launches National Crypto Enforcement Team
The US DOJ has unveiled establishing a National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET), a law enforcement task force fighting crypto crime.
G7 Bank Sector Higher Money Laundering Risk than Crypto Industry, Reports Mexico Financial Intelligence
According to a report released by the Financial Intelligence Unit of Mexico, the G7 banking sector was most at risk of money laundering operations.
UK's NCA Announces Disruption of World's Most Harmful Cyber Crime Group, LockBit
UK's NCA launched "Operation Cronos" against LockBit, a global cyber crime syndicate, resulting in significant disruptions and the seizure of servers, cryptocurrency accounts, and decryption keys.
World Economic Forum Warns Leaders to Brace for Long-Lasting Global Recession as Cybercrimes Surge
The World Economic Forum (WEF) suggested that leaders around the world need to do more to ensure a quicker and more sustainable recovery for the global economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Amongst the 350 top risk professionals in the world surveyed, these risk managers expect a prolonged global recession, as a number of areas of concern were identified in the report compiled by the Forum’s Global Risks Advisory Board, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc, and Zurich Insurance Group.
South Korea Arrests 3 Suspects in $3.4 Billion worth Crypto-related Probe
South Korean prosecutors on Thursday arrested three people in a probe of $3.4 billion worth of foreign-exchange transactions for possible connections to illegal crypto-related crimes.
Australian Female Hacker Sentenced to 2 Years of Prison for $400K Ripple (XRP) Crypto Heist
Australia recorded one of its first cases of cryptocurrency theft recently.
Ireland's CAB Seizes Bitcoin Worth €52 Million from Drug Dealer
Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has been given the go-ahead by the high court to seize Bitcoin valued at €52 million, approximately $56 million USD, from a forty-nine-year-old drug dealer.
Misuse of Facial Recognition: The $10M Macy's and Sunglass Hut Legal Battle
Harvey Eugene Murphy Jr. sues Macy's and Sunglass Hut for $10 million over wrongful arrest and assault, highlighting flaws in facial recognition technology and its serious consequences.
UAE Rolls Out Blockchain-Powered Trade Finance Platform to Fight Fraud
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a blockchain-enabled trade finance platform dubbed UAE Trade Connect to curb economic crimes like money laundering, under-invoicing, and fraud.
Deribit Exchange's Hot Wallet Hacked for $28M
Deribit exchange has revealed it has been hacked for $28 million
Former OpenSea Staff Charged with Insider Trading Offenses
Nathaniel Chastain, former Head of Product at OpenSea, has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged insider trading.
TOR Network Vulnerability May Have Facilitated Dark Web Bitcoin Theft
According to a cybersecurity researcher, Bitcoin thieves and hackers have controlled more exit relays on the Tor network this year than in the past five, raising serious cybersecurity concerns that experts are looking to fix.
New York Man Charged with Defrauding Investors $4.5 Million in Cryptocurrency Investment Scheme
A New York man has been charged in US federal court with defrauding investors out of millions of dollars in crypto assets that he used on offshore gambling sites. A criminal complaint was filed on July 9, and the US Attorney’s Office charged Douglas Jae Woo Kim, 27 years old, with wire fraud in which he allegedly conned three investors out of over $4.5 million of Ethereum and Bitcoin.
Western Australian Police Force Seized 1.5 Million Worth of Crypto in a Drug Investigation
The Australian Border Force (ABF), the Western Australian Police Force announced that the team has arrested a 27-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman over drug probe, seizing and frozen an incredible amount of 1.5 million worth of cryptocurrency found in the electronic device held by the culprits.
JBS Paid Hackers $11M Worth of Bitcoin to Set Free From Hacker Attack
JBS's CEO Andre Nogueira revealed the company had paid hackers $11 million worth of Bitcoin ransom to set free. Nogueira insisted that is the right decision.
Zcash-Commissioned Research Find Cybercriminals Prefer Bitcoin Over Other Cryptocurrencies
Independent research commissioned by the Electric Coin Company (ECC), the parent firm of privacy-focused cryptocurrency Zcash, concluded cybercriminals are much likely to use Bitcoin over other digital assets.
Venezuelan President Maduro Leveraged Cryptocurrency to Conceal Drug Ring Transactions According to US DOJ
Venezuelan President Maduro and 14 other high-ranking Venezuelan officials have been charged for their alleged involvement in a multibillion-dollar cocaine trafficking ring that the the DOJ claimed wreaked havoc on American communities by flooding the markets with cocaine for over 20 years. According to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Venezuelan officials had leveraged cryptocurrency in an attempt to mask their money trail on their alleged crimes
DeFi Protocol Wintermute Suffers $160M of Hack: CEO
Cryptocurrency market maker and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) lending protocol Wintermute has been hacked with over $160 million lost.
FBI Says Cyber Criminals Dealing With Crypto are Rapidly Upgrading
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says that law enforcement can barely keep up with the advancements of criminal activities in the cryptocurrency sector.
Russian Cybercriminals Sanctioned by DoJ for Crypto Laundering Scam Generating More than $16.8M
TheDoJ has sanctioned two Russian nationals for their cybercrimes, where millions in cryptocurrency were accumulated through scamming and phishing schemes.
Chainalysis Partners with Wyoming Watchdog to Fight Cybercrime and Crypto Laundering Scams
Chainalysis has announced partnered with Wyoming’s Division of Banking to fight cybercrime, crypto laundering, crypto scams, sanctions violations, and more.
Bitcoin Sex Scam Claims Another Victim and Generates $115,000 BTC
Recently, a Bitcoin sex scam that has been running since 2015 accumulated fraudulent funds of approximately $115,000 before being detected.
Binance Becomes First Exchange to Join Cybercrime Fighting Alliance
Binance cryptocurrency exchange has joined the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA), becoming the first digital currency trading platform to make such a move.
Member of Dark Overlord Crypto Hacking Group Pleads Guilty to Ransom Attacks
UK national Nathan Wyatt was found guilty of multiple charges this week after extracting personal information from victims while demanding a Bitcoin ransom.
Woman Arrested for Bitcoin Murder-for-Hire Deal with Dark Web
A Nevada woman has been charged with a murder attempt in which she paid a hitman Bitcoin in exchange for killing off her ex-husband.
Ransomware Attacks Target English Football League, Data Withheld for $3.8 Million Bitcoin
UK government report reveals cybercriminals are targeting English Football Clubs with ransomware attacks.
Russian National Extradited to the U.S. to Face Crypto Money Laundering Charges
Alexander Vinnik, a Russian national accused of running an illegal crypto exchange BTC-e was extradited to the United States to face fraud charges.
Cardano Addresses Fake ADA Giveaway Claims on YouTube
Cardano CEO Charles Hoskinson has once again come forward to address the issue of cryptocurrency scams targeting his ADA empire and has been quick to refute any associations phishers made with the Cardano Foundation.
Bitcoins Used in Facebook Scheme to Scam Suicidal Victims Into Buying Drugs
A cybercriminal ring operation has been inciting Facebook users to employ Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, in exchange for drugs. This investigative report from the UK depicts the strategic techniques used to track down the unknown villains operating behind this devious scheme.
Former FTX CEO faces 12 criminal charges
District Judge Lewis Kaplan released a 12-count superseding indictment against Sam Bankman-Fried.
US Files Lawsuit to Recover Cryptocurrency Accounts Linked to North Korean Hacking Operation
The US Department of Justice has filed a suit against North Korean state-sponsored cyber hackers for allegedly perpetrating two major cryptocurrency heists.
Hackers Demand Bitcoin Ransom in Exchange for Unlocking Maltese Instagram User Accounts
Instagram users from Malta were reportedly attacked by hackers. Criminals are requesting that users of the locked accounts pay in Bitcoin to regain access to their accounts.
Hong Kong Suffers Surge in Crypto Scams in 2022
Hong Kong police reported a surge in crypto-related scams in 2022, with losses amounting to HK$1.7 billion ($216.6 million), up 106% from the previous year. The number of crypto-related scam cases reported in Hong Kong also surged by 67% from 2021. Such scams accounted for over 50% of the HK$3.2 billion ($407 million) stolen from city residents in technology crimes. The Hong Kong police CyberDefender website reported almost 23,000 cases of technology-related crimes in 2022. The use of cryptocurrency has made it more complicated for enforcement to track criminal funds, as fraudsters can hide their identities, transactions, and final destination.
$3.5M of Stolen Crypto Linked to KuCoin Hack Moved
On-chain data analytics have reported that KuCoin hackers have been on the move lately, as a total of $3.5 million of stolen funds were transferred.
DEA Special Agent O’Kain: Regulated Bitcoin Exchanges Are Good For Law Enforcement
DEA Special Agent Patrick O’Kain spoke at the LA Blockchain Summit on Bitcoin on the role of government agencies in policing the digital asset and blockchain space.
New Darknet Markets Launch Despite Exit Scams as Demand Rises for Illicit Goods
Despite the recent amount of exit scams on dark web platforms, the darknet sector has seen increasing growth, with new marketplaces launching every year.
Individual Crypto Hacks Done by Using Malware from Darknet: Chainalysis
Over the last few years, hackers have been actively stealing smaller amounts of cryptocurrency from individual users using malware available on the internet or darknet, Chainalysis reported.
Lazarus-Linked Blender.io Added to US Treasury's Sanction List
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mixing service, Blender.io has been added to the sanctions list by the United States Treasury Department.
BIS Advances Technology in Finance: Quantum, AI, and Green Initiatives for 2024
The Bank for International Settlements announces six innovative projects for 2024, focusing on quantum security, AI, and green finance, to enhance global financial system resilience.
Paul Pierce settles with SEC for $1.4 million
Paul Pierce settled with the SEC for promoting EthereumMax on social media without reporting his compensation.
$12M in Bitcoin Stolen from pNetwork DeFi Protocol
A vulnerability in pNetwork allowed the thief to run away with the funds. The DeFi network is now begging the hacker to return the money.
Norwegian Police Arrest Millionaire For Wife's Murder After Two-Year Goose Chase for Kidnappers Demanding $10M Monero Ransom
In October 2018, a Norwegian millionaire named Tom Hagen reported that his wife had been kidnapped and presented a ransom note to police that demanded $10 million worth of the privacy-centric cryptocurrency Monero.
400 Crypto.com Accounts Hacked, CEO Confirms Reimbursement for all Victims
According to a Bloomberg interview, Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto wallet provider and trading platform Crypto.com, said he would be more than willing to share information about Tuesday's hack if the regulator has any relevant inquiries.
Crypto Crime in London Now Goes Physical as Thieves Targets Investor's Gadgets
There is a new wave of crime in the city of London that is targeting investors in the digital currency ecosystem
Malaysian Crypto Miners Caught Stealing $59,700 of Electricity from State on Monthly Basis
Malaysian police recently arrested five cryptocurrency mining operators that were caught stealing electricity from a state-owned power company, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).
IRS Hoping to Deanonymize Monero and ZCash Privacy Coins to Prevent Cybercrime
The Criminal Investigation Division(CID) of the IRS are actively hiring private contractors to study and analyze privacy coins, as there has quite been a lot of fraudulent activities revolving around their usage.
Police Arrests 2 Suspects Involved in 2016 Bitfinex Hack
U.S. authorities have arrested a Manhattan-based couple identified as Lichtenstein and Morgan, suspected to be a part of the masterminds behind the 2016 Bitfinex exchange hack.
Ransomware Attack Directed Towards University of California Generated 118 Bitcoin
The University of California, San Francisco’s plans to further COVID-19 vaccine research were disrupted by a ransomware attack on the school’s servers.
BlockSec Shares Alerts of ETHPoW Tokens Persistent Attack
According to an alert shared by blockchain security firm, BlockSec, the ETHW protocol suffered a replay attack with the hacker carting away 200 ETHW tokens.
Europol Empowers Victims with Tools to Fend Off Ransomware Attacks
Europol, European Union’s law enforcement agency, has put together an anti-ransomware initiative that has managed to intercept $630 million dollars and more in ransomware demands, since 2016.
UK Authorities Make Record-Breaking Crypto Seizure Worth Approximately $250 Million
UK Police have seized a cryptocurrencies crime worth nearly £180million, approximately $250 million. A 39-year-old woman was released on bail after under arrested.
The identities of the guarantors who signed on as sureties
Judge Lewis Kaplan approved multiple news outlets' plea to reveal two of Sam Bankman-bail Fried's guarantors, who signed for $200,000 and $500,000.
Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried Restricted from Using encrypted messaging apps
Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried to stop using encrypted chat applications as a condition of his $250-million bail release.
Europol Cybercrime Report Identifies Monero, Zcash, Dash and Privacy Wallets as Emerging ‘Top Threats’
Europol assessed the new developments in cybercrime in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and identified certain cryptocurrency wallets as top threats.
University of Utah Paid Out $450k to Ransomware Gang to Prevent Student Data Leak
The University of Utah paid a hefty sum of $457,059.24 to a ransomware gang to prevent compromised student data from being leaked online.
Deribit Hackers Turns to Tornado Cash to Launder Stolen Funds
The hacker(s) who exploited Deribit Exchange have started laundering the stolen cash through Tornado Cash
Child Porn Darknet Sites Surge with Crypto-Payments as Korean Police Hunt "Nth Room" Clientele
The use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum has become the preferred payment for internet based human trafficking and depraved services, which include blackmail porn and child sexual exploitation according to forensics firm Chainalysis.
Over 1,100 Suspects Arrested in China on Crypto-related Crimes
China took joint national actions to arrest more than 1,100 suspects involving committing crimes by conducting cryptocurrencies unlawful trading.
Blockchain Security Firm Halborn Secures $90m in Series A Funding
Blockchain security firm Halborn has secured $90 million in Series A funding. However, the valuation of the Miami-based company has not been disclosed.
Darknet Marketplace Empire Alleged to Have Exit Scammed with $30 Million Worth of Bitcoin
Darknet digital marketplace Empire Market appears to have exit scammed and made off with a hefty profit of 2,638 Bitcoin (BTC).
Australians Lost Over $70M to Scam Crypto Investments in H1 2021
Australians continue to suffer from online scams. More than half of the $70 million in losses were to cryptocurrency, especially through Bitcoin, a study says.
Robinhood Compromised as Dark Web Hackers Allegedly Hold More Than 10K Login Keys
More than 10,000 Robinhood trading accounts have allegedly been hacked, and despite customer complaints, it appears as though the firm has been slow to act.
Chinese Police Seize $14M in Crypto from Scammers Posing as Huobi Officials
The Chinese police arrested a crypto scammer gang in Wenzhou that reportedly swindled $14.3M in cryptocurrencies.
US Law Firms Had Data Stolen and Encrypted by Hackers Demanding Crypto Ransoms
There has been a recent report of an online breach in five United States law firms as it has been compromised by hackers demanding two 100 Bitcoins (over $933,000 at the time of this report) from each firm. The ransom demanded by the hackers was expected to be paid in parts, one to allow access to the data and another to delete the hackers' copy of the data instead of selling it.
US National Lab Computer Scientists Deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Thwart Illegal Crypto Mining
Los Alamos National Laboratory has created an artificial intelligence (AI) system capable of identifying malicious codes that mine cryptos such as Bitcoin.
Nomad Lost Nearly $190m TVL in "Decentralized Robbery"
Cross-chain token bridge Nomad was breached on Monday, which resulted in a loss of cryptocurrency worth almost $200 million in terms of Total Value Locked (TVL).
Cross-Chain Crime Hits $7B: North Korean Ties Unveiled
The recent revelation by Elliptic highlights a troubling surge in cross-chain crime, now amounting to $7 billion, with North Korean affiliated Lazarus Group playing a significant role. These findings from the 2023 edition of 'The State of Cross-chain Crime' report, outstrip previous forecasts, underscoring an urgent call for bolstered security measures and refined blockchain analytics to confront the escalating menace.
Bitcoin.org Hacked, Showing Sign of "Double Return Bitcoin" in Gift Scam
Bitcoin.org, an open-source and peer-to-peer platform focused on bitcoin development, was hacked this Thursday morning by showing bitcoin's giveaway activities.
Darknet Empire Offline for Days Has Users Fearing DDoS Attack and Looming Scam
A popular darknet marketplace, Empire Market, has been reported to be offline for over 48 hours, making website users fretful as to the cause behind it.
Crypto Crimes Hit All-Time-High in 2021: Chainalysis
Crypto crimes saw a record high number last year in terms of value, blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis said.
Singapore AGC Launches Tech and Crypto Crime Task Forces
Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers has established two specialized task forces to combat technology-enabled and technology-facilitated crimes. These units, formed this year, consist of around 20 prosecutors trained in handling digital evidence and understanding the nuances of tech-related criminal activities.
Crime across DeFi Platforms Surged to $10.5B in 2021
Crime has grown at an alarming rate in the decentralized finance (DeFi) industry by hitting $10.5 billion so far this year.
Teenage Twitter Hacker Could Use Bitcoin to Post $725,000 Bail
The mastermind behind Twitter’s recent massive hack attack has finally been arrested after a nationwide investigation by the FBI, and bail for him has been set at $725,000.
BAYC says Discord Server was "Compromised"
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) announced through Twitter that its Discord server was hacked.
Hong Kong Police Crackdowns Crypto Investment Scam, involving $11M HKD
Hong Kong police announced Friday the authority has dismantled a cryptocurrency investment scam involving as much as 60 million Hong Kong dollars. At least 19 people are under arrest.
French Finance Minister Praises Blockchain, but Condemns Cryptocurrency
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has once again made his stance on crypto clear – he is critical of it and does not support it.
Man Who Pays Hitman in Bitcoin to Kill His Wife Gets Traced Back to Coinbase Account
A Tennessee man allegedly used Bitcoin to pay a hitman he found on a murder-for-hire website to kill his wife.
Former-Cryptopia Employee Pleads Guilty Stealing Over $171K in Crypto
A former male employee stole over $171K in cryptocurrencies from a liquidated New Zealand-based crypto exchange Cryptopia. The defendant has pleaded guilty, will be sentenced in October.
Creating Corruption-Free Ecosystems with Blockchain: A Study
Fighting and eliminating corruption at government or society level is not easy, as complicity and cronyism creates a wall of silence and impunity around it. How can blockchain help to tear this wall down?
Teenage Bitcoin Scammer Behind 2020 Massive Twitter Hack Gets Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
Graham Ivan Clark, a Florida teenager, will serve three years of probation after receiving a jail term of three years in prison.
Authorities in the U.S and Brazil Disrupt Crypto Fraud Ring
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently reported an investigation by the Brazilian National Police, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and other law enforcement agencies that led to the disruption of crypto-related fraud across several countries but with operational base in Curitiba, Brazil
Feds Suspect US Unemployment Systems Attacked by Fraudsters, Leading to Losses in the Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
According to federal authorities in the US, a group of international cybercriminals has been reportedly attacking the US unemployment systems, funneling millions of dollars in payments that were intended to support the detrimental effects the coronavirus pandemic had on the economy. With the number of infections in the US growing at an appalling rate, so far 1.5 million American citizens have been infected, with over 90,000 related deaths. The unemployment crisis in the country has surpassed the rate since the Great Depression, as the official US unemployment rate is at its highest in recorded history, at an alarming 14.7 percent. The New York Times obtained a memo from the US Secret Service, indicating that the fraud scheme was coming from a “well-organized Nigerian fraud ring,” and could result in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in the American financial system.
Polish Crypto Exchange BitMarket Co-Owner Found Dead
According to the local news, Niemiro was found dead in the city of Olsztyn near his residence, it was suggested that Niemiro had committed suicide.
Blockchain Ecosystem Suffers Over $9.8B Worth Security Lost in 2021
According to Snowmist, the blockchain industry has been well characterized by cryptocurrency crimes, money laundering, fraud, cases of theft, drug trafficking, and mining crimes all of which occur frequently.
Nasdaq Embraces AI to Spearhead Financial Crime Prevention
Nasdaq is investing heavily in AI technology to combat financial crime, strengthening its position as a technology-driven financial services company and addressing sophisticated financial crimes.
Netflix to Release Documentary on 2016 Bitfinex Hack
Netflix Inc has announced it is going to release a documentary about the 2016 Bitfinex hack, a financial crime that can earn the tag as one of the biggest financial thefts in history.
Kaspersky Report: Bitcoin Crime to Rise in 2021 Due to Covid-19 Induced Poverty
According to a new Kaspersky report, the coronavirus pandemic will increase cases of crypto and Bitcoin crimes in 2021.
Waze Co-Founder Uri Levine Says Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin is Only for Crime and Dark Economy
Uri Levine, Waze Co-Founder, has revealed that he believes Bitcoin and other crypto assets are purely for the dark economy and only really leveraged by criminals.
US Treasury Sanctions Two Men Accused of Laundering Crypto for North Korean Cyber Crime Syndicate
The US Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control has sanctioned two men believed to involved in laundering stolen cryptocurrency from a 2018 cyberattack against a cryptocurrency exchange.
Ripple and Chainalysis to Discuss How Crypto for Crime and Child Exploitation Can Be Prevented
An illicit way in which cryptocurrencies have been used in the digital age has been to drive the distribution of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
White House Budget Urges Legislation to Return Secret Service to Treasury Due to Crypto Crime Surge
Cryptocurrencies, and other technological advancements, projected as a threat to the international financial marketplace, the department believes has contributed to more groups of criminal organizations and more links between financial and electronic crimes combined.
US Government Creates Cyber Fraud Task Force to Put an End to Crypto Crime
The US Secret Service is hoping to put an end to the increasing money-laundering cases that have erupted with the rise of COVID-19, by creating a special division, dubbed the Cyber Fraud Task Force (CFTF).
Why Regulated Banks Have Greater Potential For Financial Crime Than Bitcoin and Crypto
While agencies focus their attention on transparent Bitcoin transactions, banks have had an official free pass disclaimer to facilitate money laundering the entire time.
Twitter Bitcoin Hack Demonstrates That Crypto Fraud is Easier to Track Than Fiat
Cryptocurrency regulation was the hot topic during an ongoing panel hosted by the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists.
UN Agency Advises Kenya to Embrace Blockchain Technology to Tame Corruption
The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) wants Kenya to embrace blockchain technology to fight runaway corruption.
Bithumb CEO Summoned by South Korean Authorities Following Police Raid on Offices
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bithumb Holdings, Lee Jung-hoon has been summoned by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Intelligent Crime Investigation Unit following the unit's incessant raid on the exchange.
Bitcoin Price Drop, An Aftermath of Janet Yellen Calling the Cryptocurrency "Extremely Inefficient"
The crypto market with Bitcoin in the lead is down following comments from Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen that BTC is mainly used in crime and is inefficient.
Libra Appoints New Chief Compliance Officer, Third C-Suite Executive Appointed with a Strong Compliance Track Record
The Libra Association appointed Sterling Daines as its new Chief Compliance Officer, who is currently the Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Credit Suisse. He is expected to leave his position at Credit Suisse and join the Libra Association later this year. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was the Managing Director and Deputy Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Goldman Sachs and has worked as a consultant to the US Department of Justice and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).