{"id":16750,"date":"2023-01-23T02:58:21","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T02:58:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/fbi-seizes-bitcoin-from-overseas-scammers-who-posed-as-us-law-enforcement-officials-featured-bitcoin-news\/"},"modified":"2023-01-23T02:58:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-23T02:58:21","slug":"fbi-seizes-bitcoin-from-overseas-scammers-who-posed-as-us-law-enforcement-officials-featured-bitcoin-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crowdfundjunction.com\/blog\/fbi-seizes-bitcoin-from-overseas-scammers-who-posed-as-us-law-enforcement-officials-featured-bitcoin-news\/","title":{"rendered":"FBI Seizes Bitcoin From Overseas Scammers Who Posed as US Law Enforcement Officials \u2013 Featured Bitcoin News"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Originally posted on : Bitcoin News )<\/b>
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it has seized bitcoin worth millions of dollars from overseas scammers targeting the elderly. The scammers posed as members of U.S. law enforcement agencies and tricked the victims into transferring money to them for \u201csafekeeping.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

FBI Says It Has Seized Bitcoin From Scammers Overseas<\/h2>\n

The U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut and the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the New Haven Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced Friday that bitcoin and other digital assets have been seized in connection with a fraudulent scheme targeting the elderly. They detailed:<\/p>\n

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An investigation of a fraud scheme targeting vulnerable victims has resulted in the forfeiture of approximately 151 bitcoins, as well as other digital assets.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Marshals Service. At the time of writing, the value of the allegedly seized bitcoin totaled approximately $3.5 million.<\/p>\n

The fraud, which occurred in approximately October 2020, involved overseas individuals pretending to be members of U.S. law enforcement agencies. They targeted \u201cvulnerable victims, including first-generation U.S. citizens and elderly persons,\u201d the authorities said. Through phone calls, they told the victims that their identity had been compromised. After gaining the victims\u2019 trust, the scammers requested transfers of money for \u201csafekeeping\u201d with the promise of returning the funds plus interest. The announcement details:<\/p>\n

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Once the overseas individuals had access to the victims\u2019 money, they moved the money through multiple bank accounts and converted the money to digital currency in the form of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cLaw enforcement investigators traced the victims\u2019 money through the various accounts and identified a digital wallet holding bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that had been purchased with the victims\u2019 money,\u201d the announcement adds. The authorities noted that the overseas scammers remain at large.<\/p>\n

The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office has been granted \u201ca civil asset forfeiture seizure warrant for the digital wallet,\u201d the announcement clarifies, elaborating:<\/p>\n

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The U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office used the civil asset forfeiture procedure because the digital assets constituted the proceeds of wire fraud.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What do you think about this case? Let us know in the comments section below.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\nKevin Helms <\/h6>\n

\nA student of Austrian Economics, Kevin found Bitcoin in 2011 and has been an evangelist ever since. His interests lie in Bitcoin security, open-source systems, network effects and the intersection between economics and cryptography.

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Image Credits<\/b>: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons<\/em><\/p>\n

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Disclaimer<\/strong>: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com<\/a> does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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