BOSTON – The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts is attempting to claw back digital assets allegedly obtained through a brazen online investment scam that hooked victims through LinkedIn and lured them into a fraudulent cryptocurrency platform. A civil forfeiture action was filed today, targeting 81,547 USDT (Tether) and 87,321 BEL (Bella Protocol) – cryptocurrency with a combined estimated value of over $115,000 – already seized by the government.
The investigation kicked off in April 2022 after a Massachusetts resident reported being fleeced. According to court documents, the victim was initially contacted on LinkedIn in March 2022 by an individual alleged to be running the scam. Communication quickly shifted to a Chinese-language application, where the alleged scammer built trust and convinced the victim to invest in what they believed was a legitimate cryptocurrency opportunity. The victim was then directed to download a seemingly legitimate app that authorities now claim was a cleverly disguised fraud tool.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Investigators quickly uncovered a second victim in California who fell prey to the same scheme, also initiated through LinkedIn. Both victims were allegedly manipulated into investing funds through the fraudulent platform. Crucially, authorities were able to trace a portion of the invested funds to a specific cryptocurrency wallet, leading to the seizure of the USDT and BEL.
“It is a violation of federal law to use wire communications as part of a scheme to defraud or to obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses,” a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office read. The civil forfeiture process allows potential claimants to the seized property to come forward, with any legitimate claims being addressed before the funds can be forfeited to the U.S. government and potentially returned to the victims.
This marks the second civil forfeiture action filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeking to recover cryptocurrency linked to online investment scams targeting Massachusetts residents. The office is clearly signaling a heightened focus on combating these increasingly prevalent digital frauds. U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, jointly announced the action. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol E. Head, Chief of Rollins’ Asset Recovery Unit, is leading the forfeiture proceedings.
Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of a cybercrime – including cryptocurrency scams, romance scams, investment fraud, or Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes – is urged to contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov. It’s important to note that the details outlined in the civil forfeiture complaint are allegations at this point. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has not, as of today, filed a corresponding criminal indictment in this matter.
Related Federal Cases
- Crypto Scam Artists Targeted MA Victims · Massachusetts
- $5.3M Union Scam: Feds Seize Funds in BEC Heist · Massachusetts
- $5.3M Stolen: Feds File Forfeiture Action in Mass. Workers Union Email Scam · Massachusetts
- Tracy Resident Sentenced for Tampering with Water Treatment Facility · Massachusetts
- Tracy Man Taints Town’s Water Supply: 6 Months Home Confinement for Gallo · Massachusetts
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
CybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrimeCybercrime