New York Attorney General Files Lawsuit Over $2.2M Crypto Scam

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit to recover $2.2 million in cryptocurrency stolen from victims who were tricked with false promises of “remote work opportunities.”

Attorney General James revealed that scammers lured New York residents with “well-paying, flexible jobs” through text messages, leading them into a crypto scam. Victims were encouraged to open cryptocurrency accounts, deposit funds, and review products on fake websites.

A Trap Set with False Promises

Victims were told to maintain a crypto balance equivalent to or exceeding the value of the products they reviewed. Scammers claimed that the funds were only required to “legitimize” transactions and assured victims they were not actually purchasing the products. They also promised full reimbursement plus commissions. However, no payments were ever made.

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In a statement, Attorney General James said:

“Deceiving New Yorkers looking for remote work to support their families by tricking them into buying cryptocurrency and stealing it is cruel and unacceptable.”

With assistance from the U.S. Secret Service, some of the stolen cryptocurrency has been frozen. The Attorney General’s office warned residents to remain vigilant against text messages from unknown senders claiming to offer jobs or opportunities.

FBI’s Warning on Remote Work Scams

This case highlights a warning issued by the FBI in June 2024 about a rise in remote work scams. According to the FBI, scammers contacted potential victims through unsolicited messages, offering simple tasks like “rating restaurants” or “optimizing services.”

Victims were then instructed to make cryptocurrency payments to unlock additional work opportunities, but these payments went straight into the scammers’ accounts.

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