A Scammer Duped the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) into Sending $55,000 Worth of Crypto
A scammer has successfully tricked the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) into sending them $55,000 worth of cryptocurrency. The incident occurred when the DEA sent a test transfer of $45.36 worth of Tether (USDT) to the U.S. Marshals Service after seizing over $500,000 of the stablecoin in May. The scammer noticed the test transaction and created a crypto wallet with a similar address to the U.S. Marshals’. They then airdropped a token into the DEA wallet, leading the agency to mistakenly send over $55,000 worth of USDT to the scam wallet.
Main Points:
- The DEA mistakenly sent $55,000 worth of USDT to a scam wallet that had a similar address to the U.S. Marshals’ wallet.
- The scammer noticed a test transfer of $45.36 worth of USDT and took advantage of the opportunity.
- The stolen funds have been converted to Ethereum (ETH) and transferred to a different wallet.
- The FBI is leading the investigation and has already filed a warrant.
- Digital asset scams have seen a 77% decline in revenue over the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
Hot Take: This incident highlights the need for careful verification and attention to detail when conducting crypto transactions. Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their methods, making it crucial for individuals and organizations to stay vigilant and implement robust security measures to protect their assets.
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