October 15th 2026, 12:36 PM
Crypto Scammers Shut Down by FBI and DA's Office in Brooklyn
Key Summary
A crypto scam targeting Russian speakers has been dismantled by the FBI and Brooklyn District Attorney's office, with losses estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. Investigators seized 241 scam domains and 112 servers, disrupting the scammers' ability to spin up new sites and contact victims. The case is part of a wider US push against cross-border crypto fraud.
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Introduction
The Brooklyn District Attorney's office has dismantled the online backbone of a crypto scam aimed at Russian speakers.How the Scam Worked
The scheme began with Russian-language Facebook ads promising investment opportunities. Victims who responded got a call from a Russian-speaking 'investment advisor.' The advisor coached them through opening an account on a crypto platform.The Scammers' Tactics
The advisor then helped them buy crypto and send it to addresses tied to that platform. Weeks or months later, victims who tried to withdraw found their accounts locked. Others were told to pay extra fees and taxes before they could touch their money.The Takedown
Prosecutors went after the servers behind the crypto scam, tracing the domains and coordinating a takedown with the FBI. Investigators executed search warrants across three time zones, disrupting over 100 cloud servers hosted by Eastern European and American firms.The case adds to a wider US push against cross-border crypto fraud. Investigators have seized about $300,000 in stolen funds so far and are working to recover more.
#Bitcoin#US#Crypto#Cybercrime#Russia