FBI Links North Korean Hackers to $308 Million DMM Exchange Breach

The FBI and other agencies linked a group of North Korean threat actors, known as ‘Tradertraitor,’ to May 2023’s $308 million hack of DMM, a Japanese exchange. The hackers used social engineering to access internal communications and perpetrate the attack. FBI Unveils Korean Connection in DMM Multi-Million Hack The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in … Read more

FBI Cracks $8.3M Crypto Fraud: Launderer Sentenced to Prison and $2.3M Repayment

A Maryland Heights man, Richard Charles Appelbaum III, has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to repay $2.3 million for his role in laundering millions through cryptocurrency. Appelbaum, 40, conspired with others to funnel proceeds from Business Email Compromise (BEC) and romance fraud schemes into cryptocurrency via Coins2trade. Recruited by “E.S.,” allegedly … Read more

Cybercrime Marketplace Crumbles as Authorities Seize Hidden Crypto Stash

The U.S. Justice Department has announced the seizure of Popeyetools, a cybercrime marketplace, and unmasked its role in illicit cryptocurrency transactions. Administrators Abdul Ghaffar, Abdul Sami, and Javed Mirza were charged with selling stolen financial data and facilitating crimes involving ransomware and fraud. Since 2016, Popeyetools generated $1.7 million in revenue, partly from cryptocurrency payments, … Read more

FBI-Created Token Hits Its Mark: Landmark Guilty Plea Shatters Crypto Fraud Ring

The FBI’s fake cryptocurrency token unraveled a landmark market manipulation case, leading a founder to plead guilty to running automated wash trades across exchanges. In FBI-Created Token’s Trap, Crypto Mogul’s Empire Collapses The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that Liu Zhou, the founder of Mytrade, a cryptocurrency financial services firm, has pled … Read more

$230M Bitcoin Heist Takes Dark Turn — $100M Still Missing, FBI Probes Kidnapping Link

Two young men pulled off a $230 million bitcoin heist in one of the largest crypto thefts from a private individual in U.S. history. But after indulging in luxury cars and a $2 million watch, the story took a sinister twist. Now, prosecutors say the crime may be tied to a shocking kidnapping — and … Read more

$150M Crypto Scheme Leader Vanishes From US Detention, Active Manhunt Underway

A German national accused of orchestrating a $150 million cryptocurrency fraud is now a fugitive after allegedly tampering with his ankle monitor while on home detention in New York. Prosecutors say he led a multi-level marketing scheme, promising massive returns, before siphoning off millions in cryptocurrency and disappearing just before his trial. An active investigation … Read more