Even digital assets face physical theft risk as $3.5M crime spree highlights

Even digital assets face physical theft risk as $3.5M crime spree highlights
Violent home invasions and even kidnap were used by criminals.
SEP 16, 2024

Usually when we hear about the theft of digital assets they involve online hacking or phishing attacks, often from thousands of miles from a victim’s home.

However, a Florida court has sentenced a man to 47 years in jail for his involvement in a string of cryptocurrency thefts that stole $3.5 million from victims. A total of 12 men have now been sentenced for their part in the crimes with

The case serves as a warning to crypto investors and their financial advisors that there can be a very physical aspect to the theft of digital assets, with the conspirators using SIM swapping and violent home invasions to access their victims’ assets.

Court documents and trial evidence revealed that the men held victims at gunpoint, assaulted them, and bound them with plastic cable ties.

Having gained control of victims’ mobile phones by using social media or phishing to gain a new SIM card from their carriers, the fraudsters were able to access digital asset accounts and transfer cryptocurrency from exchanges.

Later, they also used home invasions where victims were often beaten and tortured, and on occasion kidnapped. The men gained access to computers allowing them to steal digital assets and cash and other valuables were also stolen.

“Throughout the conspiracy, the conspirators communicated via an encrypted messaging application to plan their crimes. They identified targets and discussed how to gain entry to homes, the tools required to carry out the crimes, the technical aspects of cryptocurrency, and the patterns of life of their targets. They also circulated pictures of their targets and their targets’ homes,” said the US Justice Department’s Office of Public Affairs.

 

Latest News

Supreme Court bars activist investors from suing funds under investor law
Supreme Court bars activist investors from suing funds under investor law

Saba pushed; the justices pushed back - and the SEC keeps the gavel.

North Carolina court strikes down wealth firm's non-compete and non-solicit as overbroad
North Carolina court strikes down wealth firm's non-compete and non-solicit as overbroad

Two restrictive covenants gone in one ruling - and the drafting flaw is everywhere.

The wealth trap: Why feeling rich matters more than being rich
The wealth trap: Why feeling rich matters more than being rich

Clients' everyday realities, anxieties, and aspirations naturally change as they go up the wealth scale – and that has profound implications for advisors helping them find what "enough" really means.

Orion's new King of Prussia hub reflects 'AI-native workforce' strategy
Orion's new King of Prussia hub reflects 'AI-native workforce' strategy

The RIA technology giant's new office features a fitness center, café and outdoor community spaces, including a beehive, picnic area and herb garden for over 100 employees.

Endowments and foundations turn to alternatives as confidence in return targets fades
Endowments and foundations turn to alternatives as confidence in return targets fades

Liquidity risk overtakes access as the top concern for E&Fs as private markets dominate portfolios.

SPONSORED Estate planning isn't a service add-on. It's your retention strategy.

As $84 trillion prepares to change hands, advisors who treat estate planning as peripheral are quietly building a sieve, not a book.

SPONSORED Why strategy matters more than performance

In volatile markets, the advisors who win aren't the ones with the best calls - they're the ones whose clients stay the course.