Victims of the “wrong number” scam across the United States, including Ohio, are receiving a measure of justice thanks to recent initiatives by US authorities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has identified 33 crypto fraud victims nationwide, among them a resident of Mentor, Ohio. Court documents have revealed that these victims collectively lost over $4.9 million, with the FBI in the process of identifying five additional accounts linked to potential victims.
Additionally, the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has filed a civil complaint seeking the forfeiture of 8,207,578 Tether—a cryptocurrency valued at approximately $8.2 million. Authorities have indicated that the victims were lured into investing in cryptocurrency scams through messages sent from random phone numbers.
‘Wrong Number’ Scam Targets Unsuspecting Victims To Invest In Fake Crypto Projects
The FBI, alongside the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern Ohio District, is working tirelessly to bring these scammers to justice. According to court documents and accounts from victims, the scammers initiated contact by messaging individuals from random phone numbers, claiming to have reached the wrong number.
Once they established communication, the scammers built rapport with the recipients to gain their trust, eventually persuading them to invest in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. The FBI has confirmed the identification of 33 victims thus far, with potential additional losses exceeding $6 million.
From Crypto.com To Another Wallet
One victim, identified as “A.H.” from Mentor, Ohio, recounted her experience with the scammers. She disclosed that she received a message in November 2023 from a scammer who engaged her in discussions about religion and hobbies, pretending to be a fellow resident of Seattle, Washington.
After gaining her trust, the scammer persuaded her to consider investing in digital currencies. “A.H.” disclosed that she invested $250,000 following instructions to create an account on Crypto.com and wire the funds to the exchange. Under the scammer’s guidance, she sent money to a designated crypto address.
Investigators Look At Blockchain Data To Track Funds
Upon receiving “A.H.”’s complaint, investigators promptly reviewed and tracked the transactions on the blockchain. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center led the inquiry, determining that a portion of the stolen funds was converted into Tether. With a federal seizure warrant in hand, Tether complied by freezing the funds and transferring them to the authorities without delay.
On February 27th, acting US Attorney for Ohio Carol Skutnik and Assistant US Attorney Morford requested that all funds be redirected to three crypto addresses, allowing for the facilitation of restitution to the scammed individuals.
Featured image from Reuters, chart from TradingView
