Phishing scam of $16 million: Brooklyn scammer arrested, meme stolen in attack

SchroedingerGas · 2026-01-13T08:37:56+00:00

A 23-year-old from Brooklyn, Ronald Spektor, was arrested for orchestrating a large-scale phishing scheme targeting cryptocurrency investors, allegedly stealing $16 million. He impersonated customer support staff and laundered the stolen assets. Law enforcement, aided by blockchain tracking, recovered $505,000 for victims, highlighting the need for investor vigilance in protecting personal information.

SchroedingerGas

2026-01-13 08:37:56

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A 23-year-old young man from Brooklyn has just been taken into custody for executing a large-scale phishing campaign targeting the cryptocurrency trading community. Ronald Spektor is accused of deceiving approximately 100 investors by impersonating employees from a well-known trading platform.

How the scam operated

The scam was carried out through a sophisticated plan. Spektor impersonated customer support staff to approach investors, then stole their digital assets. The total amount of stolen cryptocurrency reached up to $16 million, including meme coins stolen from careless investors.

After acquiring the assets, Spektor used mixing services and online gambling platforms to launder the money illegally. This technique was employed to conceal the origin and flow of the stolen funds.

Investigation and arrest process

Law enforcement agencies collaborated closely with experts from the targeted trading platform. Thanks to modern blockchain tracking tools, they identified the transfer routes and located the suspect.

The investigation revealed that authorities seized approximately $505,000, including cash and cryptocurrencies, from related accounts. This is a significant part of the effort to compensate the victims of the scam.

Lessons for the trading community

This incident serves as a reminder to the community about the importance of protecting personal information and trading accounts. Investors should be cautious of identity verification requests from unofficial channels. Always verify directly through official channels before sharing any sensitive information.

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