US Authorities Charge 12 Individuals with Stealing $263 Million in Cryptocurrency

By Netvora Tech News

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The US Department of Justice has filed charges against 12 individuals accused of stealing $263 million in cryptocurrency. According to the indictment, one victim had 4,100 bitcoins stolen, valued at over $230 million at the time of the theft. The stolen funds were allegedly spent on lavish items, including nights at exclusive clubs, high-end watches, tens of cars, clothing, rental properties, private jet rentals, and security services. The indictment alleges that the defendants played various roles in the scheme. Some were responsible for obtaining crypto-related databases or purchasing them online, while others used social engineering tactics to gain access to victims' wallets and steal their cryptocurrency assets. The indictment also claims that some defendants broke into their victims' homes to steal hardware wallets containing the stolen cryptocurrency. In one instance, a defendant allegedly monitored the location of a victim by logging into their iCloud account. The stolen funds were then allegedly laundered by other defendants. Several defendants have been arrested in the United States, while two others are believed to be in Dubai, according to the Columbia County prosecutor.