On-chain investigator ZachXBT has shared more details about the recent phishing case that led to the loss of 3,520 BTC from a single wallet.
The funds were stolen in a personalized scam that targeted an elderly investor active on multiple exchanges.
ZachXBT Begins Freezing Funds From Bitcoin Heist
Crypto sleuth ZachXBT announced that he and several collaborators have successfully frozen some of the Bitcoin (BTC) stolen in a $330 million heist that targeted an elderly investor. He also names two potential suspects but added that the investigation is ongoing. The case is a strange one. The target, an elderly Bitcoin whale active on multiple exchanges, acquired his crypto through “interesting” methods. However, the on-chain investigator did not elaborate on the topic further.
The on-chain sleuth, one of the crypto industry’s most prominent figures, has made substantial progress in the case. The theft occurred on April 28, with ZachXBT issuing consistent updates about the case’s progress. As of May 3, ZachXBT and his associates, along with other volunteer investigators, have frozen $7 million of the stolen funds. However, over $300 million is still unaccounted for.
“So far, $7 million+ has been frozen with the help of CF Investigators, tanuki42_, Binance’s Security team, and myself. Two suspects in the $330 million heist include ‘Nina/Mo’ a Somalian who operates a call scam center in Camden, UK, and an accomplice ‘W0rk’ who assisted with the site/call. They have since deleted social media accounts.”
Details Of The Hack
The target of the audacious heist was an elderly individual based in the United States. According to ZachXBT, the attackers used social engineering tactics, rendering all security measures ineffective. The attackers used Monero to launder the stolen funds, creating enough trading volume to impact the asset’s price. However, there are several unanswered questions about the heist. For starters ZachXBT did not release any details about the victim, only stating they were a longtime holder active on multiple exchanges. He also claimed that the $330 million came from “interesting” sources but did not provide any details and may never do so.
ZachXBT also did not elaborate on the roles his associate investigators were playing in the investigation. However, Binance’s direct participation is noteworthy. The investigator also noted that the victim’s information was likely stolen from private data leaks. Last month, Binance users were targeted using a similar method.
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