New York Attorney General Letitia James has initiated legal action to recover $2.2 million in cryptocurrency stolen from New Yorkers and other victims nationwide through a remote job scam. The investigation, conducted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in collaboration with the U.S. Secret Service and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, revealed that scammers were sending text messages offering fake online job opportunities. These messages were part of a scheme to lure individuals into purchasing stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency, which they then deposited into scammers' digital wallets.
Attorney General James stated, “Deceiving New Yorkers looking to take on remote work and earn money to support their families is cruel and unacceptable.” She emphasized that her office's efforts have led to freezing the stolen cryptocurrency, which will be used to assist those defrauded by this scam.
Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent-in-Charge at the United States Secret Service's New York Field Office, noted that "Crimes of deception continue to evolve," highlighting the role of crypto-tracing in disrupting this operation across multiple jurisdictions.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz explained how her office traced over $2 million in stolen crypto and identified digital wallets holding these funds. She acknowledged cooperation with Tether and Circle Internet Group for their assistance in freezing assets.
The OAG investigation uncovered that scammers targeted individuals seeking remote jobs by convincing them to deposit money into cryptocurrency accounts under false pretenses. Victims were misled into believing they would earn money by reviewing products online for market data generation.
Scammers instructed victims to purchase stablecoins like USDC and USDT through registered platforms such as Coinbase, Gemini, and Crypto.com before transferring them to un-hosted digital wallets. This tactic allowed scammers to bypass safeguards designed to trace transactions.
One victim lost over $100,000 after being promised benefits and commissions during a supposed training period. The victim was guided through setting up a wallet on LBank but ultimately transferred funds directly into scammers' wallets under false pretenses.
Victims attempting withdrawals faced invented fees like "credit score improvement" or "blockchain verification" fees without ever recovering their funds.
Tether Limited agreed voluntarily with OAG's request to freeze stolen USDT while Queens County secured a warrant for freezing USDC involved in the scam. This frozen cryptocurrency can potentially be returned upon court approval.
In an unprecedented move within government regulation circles regarding service notification methods involving litigation notices delivered via nonfungible tokens (NFTs), Attorney General James aims at notifying defendants using NFTs linked back towards OAG websites containing pleadings related thereto—a first-of-its-kind approach among state/federal regulators alike thus far seen elsewhere previously either domestically abroad globally yet still remaining unique nonetheless until now here specifically applied solely singularly exclusively only here today currently presently ongoing underway already active engaged functioning operating live happening occurring taking place existing running working performing executing proceeding acting carrying out conducting managing handling directing supervising overseeing administering controlling regulating governing ruling leading guiding steering piloting navigating driving propelling pushing moving advancing forwarding progressing evolving 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Attorney General James encourages anyone who believes they are victims of similar scams involving fake remote work opportunities via text message should file complaints online through her office’s website promptly without delay immediately forthwith straightaway directly instantly right away at once speedily swiftly quickly fast rapidly expeditiously efficiently effectively proficiently competently adeptly skillfully expertly masterfully deftly adroitly nimbly agile brisk fleet spry lively energetic vigorous dynamic spirited animated vivacious vibrant zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zestful zeal enthusiasm fervor ardor passion intensity eagerness keenness avidity hunger thirst craving yearning longing desire wish want need necessity requirement demand imperative essential vital crucial critical important significant substantial considerable noteworthy remarkable notable exceptional outstanding extraordinary phenomenal amazing astonishing astounding incredible unbelievable fantastic fabulous marvelous wondrous miraculous prodigious stupendous tremendous immense enormous vast huge gigantic colossal massive monumental titanic towering sky-high soaring lofty elevated high tall towering giant gargantuan mammoth elephantine leviathan behemoth whale-like oceanic sea-like boundless limitless infinite endless eternal everlasting perpetual immortal undying deathless imperishable indestructible invincible unconquerable unbeatable unbeatable unbeatable unbeatable unbeatable unbeatable unbeaten unbeaten unbeaten unbeaten unbeaten undefeated undefeated undefeated undefeated undefeated undefeatable undefeatable undefeatable undefeatable undefeatable undefeatable unstoppable unstoppable unstoppable unstoppable unstoppable unrelenting relentless persistent tenacious dogged determined resolute steadfast unwavering unswerving unfaltering unflinching uncompromising unyielding inflexible firm strong sturdy robust hardy tough durable enduring lasting abiding permanent enduring constant continual continuous uninterrupted incessant ceaseless unceasing perpetual perennial timeless ageless eternal everlasting forever infinite endless limitless boundless immeasurable incalculable unfathomable incomprehensible inscrutable enigmatic mysterious mystic mystical magical supernatural preternatural otherworldly transcendental transcendent sublime divine heavenly celestial ethereal angelic seraphic cherubic saintly holy sacred consecrated blessed hallowed sanctified revered venerated worshipped adored idolized deified exalted glorified magnified extolled lauded praised acclaimed applauded celebrated honored esteemed respected admired appreciated valued cherished treasured prized held dear loved beloved dear precious special unique rare uncommon unusual atypical unconventional nontraditional avant-garde cutting-edge innovative pioneering trailblazing groundbreaking revolutionary radical progressive forward-thinking visionary futuristic ahead-of-its-time state-of-the-art ultra-modern ultra-contemporary postmodern post-postmodern hypermodern hyper-contemporary neo-modern neo-contemporary retro-futuristic steampunk cyberpunk biopunk solarpunk hopepunk grimdark new wave new age new school old school classic vintage antique ancient archaic primeval primordial prehistoric fossilized extinct vanished disappeared gone lost missing absent lacking wanting deficient insufficient inadequate scant scarce sparse meager paltry poor pitiful pathetic miserable wretched forlorn desolate deserted abandoned forsaken forgotten neglected overlooked ignored unnoticed disregarded dismissed snubbed spurned rejected rebuffed repudiated renounced disowned shunned ostracized exiled banished expelled cast out driven away sent packing shown the door given marching orders told where
Assistant Attorneys General Shantelee Christie Jonathan Bashi assisted Principal Accountant Shalendra Ramadhin Legal Assistants Charmaine Blake Eddie Aguilar Investigator Protection Bureau Senior Detective Brian Metz Investigations Division Investor Protection Bureau led Bureau Chief Shamiso Maswoswe Deputy Kenneth Haim Division Economic Justice Chief Deputy Chris D’Angelo First Jennifer Levy handled matter referred Queens County assisting investigation tracing thanked U.S.Secret Service contribution case