Scammer Tricks U.S. DEA into Transferring $55,000 in Crypto, FBI Launches Probe
A recent Forbes report reveals that a cunning scammer successfully manipulated the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to transfer them cryptocurrency valued at $55,000.
In light of this incident, the DEA had initially conducted a trial transaction of $45.36 worth of Tether (USDT) to the U.S. Marshals Service. This move came after the DEA had confiscated over $500,000 worth of the stablecoin in May from two Binance accounts, suspected of being involved in money laundering related to drug activities.
The scammer, however, astutely noticed this test transfer and ingeniously established a cryptocurrency wallet. This wallet shared identical first five and last four characters with the U.S. Marshals’ address. Capitalizing on this resemblance, the scammer performed an airdrop of a token into the DEA’s wallet. The result was the inadvertent transfer of over $55,000 worth of USDT to the scam wallet, as the DEA mistakenly believed it was sending funds to the Marshals.
Forbes reports that both the DEA and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have been tracking the pilfered funds. These funds were eventually converted to Ethereum (ETH) and moved to a different wallet. An ongoing investigation, led by the FBI, has been initiated, with a warrant already filed.
Despite these events, a recent report from Chainalysis, a blockchain data platform, indicates a 77% reduction in revenue from digital asset scams during the first half of 2023 when compared to the same period last year. This decline reflects a trend in the cryptocurrency realm.
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency investments are subject to market risks, and individuals should seek professional advice before making any investment decisions.
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