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Ohio Siblings Swindled Out of $1M+ in Crypto Scam
CLEVELAND – A Trumbull County man and his sister are counting the losses after falling victim to a sophisticated cryptocurrency investment scam that drained over $1 million of their combined savings. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio is moving to forfeit $325,060 in Tether (USDT) cryptocurrency believed to be fraudulently obtained in the scheme.
The nightmare began on November 24, 2024, when the elderly male victim, of Bristolville, Ohio, reported the scam to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. He’d received a random text message intended for someone named “Zach.” A friendly conversation soon blossomed with the sender, who quickly revealed herself as “Shaw Goddess” on the Telegram messaging platform. “Shaw Goddess” expertly built trust, presenting herself as a successful investor and subtly pushing the victim towards cryptocurrency investments.
The scammer directed the victim to open accounts with Crypto.com and, when purchase limits were reached, Strike.com. More than $1 million of the victim’s money flowed into these accounts. He was then instructed to transfer the purchased cryptocurrency to a bogus investment platform – a classic move in these digital swindles. The scam didn’t stop there. The victim convinced his sister to invest over $600,000 of her own savings, expanding the scope of the fraud.
Red flags began to wave when both the victim and his sister attempted to withdraw their supposed profits. The victim was told his funds were “locked up,” while his sister faced demands for a 10% upfront “tax” – a clear inconsistency that raised alarm bells. It was at this point they realized they’d been played. Fortunately, investigators were able to trace some of the stolen funds. Through meticulous “blockchain analysis,” federal agents identified approximately $200,000 of the stolen money linked to a cryptocurrency address on the Tron blockchain, later converted to Tether (USDT).
Tether Limited, Inc. froze the USDT tokens – a balance of 325,060 USDT, valued at roughly $325,060 – on December 31, 2024. A federal seizure warrant issued on March 20, 2025, allowed for the transfer of these frozen tokens to a U.S. law enforcement-controlled virtual currency wallet. The U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a civil complaint in forfeiture on August 27, 2025, seeking to permanently seize the $325,060 in USDT.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related fraud, particularly targeting vulnerable populations. While the recovery of $325,060 is a positive step, the siblings remain out over $700,000. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to identify and prosecute the individual or individuals behind the “Shaw Goddess” persona. The blockchain, while offering a record of transactions, doesn’t inherently prevent fraud – it simply provides a trail for investigators to follow, if they can find it in time.
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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