Scams

This week, we explore the intricate interplay of events that led to BitConnect’s dramatic decline, and the case of the missing woman just left of center of the scheme.

By David Z. Morris

Jan 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. UTC

Jan 17, 2023

PodcastBitconnectScams

European authorities have busted a crypto fraud operation in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Serbia. (Shutterstock)

Policy

Crime

Multimillion Euro Crypto Fraud Operation in Bulgaria, Cyprus and Serbia Busted

Authorities searched four call centers and 18 other places and arrested five people.

By Jamie Crawley

Jan 13, 2023 at 12:47 p.m. UTC

Jan 13, 2023

CrimeScamsBulgariaCyprusSerbia

Podcasts

Podcast

BitConnect Episode 1: The Gujarati Connection

This week, we dig into the rise of BitConnect, the strange kidnapping case that ultimately helped unravel the scheme and an important Texas Securities Commission cease and des...

By David Z. Morris

Jan 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. UTC

Jan 10, 2023

PodcastBitconnectScams

CryptoNovo's recent activity via OpenSea (Screenshot)

Web3

Nfts

Web3 Builders Lose Dozens of High-Value NFTs in Back-to-Back Attacks

Nikhil Gopalani, COO of an NFT project owned by Nike, and CryptoNovo, a prominent NFT collector, lost NFTs estimated to have been worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to sca...

By Eli Tan

Jan 5, 2023 at 12:09 a.m. UTC

Jan 5, 2023

NFTsWeb3CryptoScamsPhishing

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Policy

Regulations

SEC Pursues $45M Scam Based in Fake Blockchain Technology

The U.S. securities agency is going after the people behind what it says was a massive fraud stealing from tens of thousands of investors.

By Jesse Hamilton

Jan 4, 2023 at 11:18 p.m. UTC

Jan 4, 2023

RegulationsSECSecurities FraudEnforcementScamsBlockchain

Markets

Rug pulls

Crypto Adds Unsavory Footnote to Dreadful 2022: Year of the Rug Pull

Fraudsters deployed over 117,000 scam tokens from January through Dec. 1, a 41% increase over the full 2021, according to study from Solidus Labs.

By Jocelyn Yang

Dec 23, 2022 at 7:45 p.m. UTC

Dec 23, 2022

rug pullsScamsMarketsCrypto

Policy

Regulations

US Prosecutors Charge 21 Alleged ‘Money Mules’ With Using Crypto to Launder Proceeds of Cybercrimes

The arrests are the result of a multi-year investigation by the U.S. Secret Service, the Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Justice.

By Cheyenne Ligon

Nov 30, 2022 at 9:08 p.m. UTC

Nov 30, 2022

RegulationsTexasUSScamsLaw Enforcement

Technology

Chainalysis

Ethereum Merge Had ‘All the Ingredients of a Scammer’s Dream,’ Chainalysis Exec Says

Eric Jardine discusses how scammers were able to capitalize on the second-biggest blockchain’s transition and how $1.2 million in ether was stolen.

By Fran Velasquez

Nov 2, 2022 at 6:24 p.m. UTC

Nov 2, 2022

ChainalysisEthereumThe MergeCoinDesk TVScams

Video

Scams

New Solidus Labs Report Breaks Down Smart Contract Scams

Recent research from crypto risk monitoring firm Solidus Labs shows nearly 12% of all BEP-20 tokens, the standard token on BNB chain, are tied to scams. Solidus Labs' Chief Op...

By CoinDesk Inc

Oct 31, 2022 at 3:02 p.m. UTC

Oct 31, 2022

ScamscdtvFM Clipcrypto regulationsolidus labsChen Arad