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Crypto Exchange Binance Restricts 281 Nigerian Accounts — Some Requested by International Law Enforcement
31.1.2022
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has restricted 281 Nigerian user accounts. Citing user security and fraud prevention, CEO Changpeng Zhao explained that “approximately 38% of these cases [are] restricted at the request of international law enforcement.” 281 Nigerian Accounts Restricted...
Russian Government Drafts Roadmap to Regulate, Not Ban Crypto, Report Unveils
29.1.2022
A roadmap on cryptocurrencies has been prepared by a number of ministries, regulatory bodies, and law enforcement agencies, Russian media reported. The document, which aims to regulate Russia’s crypto market by the end of this year, comes amid disagreements between the central bank and other...
Nigerian Users Tell Binance ‘Stop Scamming’ — Exchange Platform Rejects Accusation
29.1.2022
Some disgruntled Nigerian users of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance have launched a campaign to boycott the platform, which they accuse of freezing client accounts without valid reason. Accounts Blocked Cryptocurrency exchange platform Binance recently became the target of a boycott campaign...
Ministries Queried About Missing 200,000 Bitcoins as Bulgaria Explores Crypto Payments
28.1.2022
The recently elected government of Bulgaria has found itself in the position of answering questions about the fate of billions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency reportedly confiscated by the country’s law enforcement five years ago. Meanwhile, the new finance minister has revealed...
IRS Special Agent on Crypto: ‘We See Mountains of Fraud in This Area’
28.1.2022
A special agent with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says the tax agency is “seeing mountains and mountains of fraud” in the cryptocurrency space. The IRS criminal investigation unit is trying to train all of its agents on crypto and non-fungible token (NFT) issues because...
Crypto Ban Proposed by Bank of Russia Met With Opposition in Parliament, Government
25.1.2022
The central bank’s push for a restrictive policy regarding cryptocurrencies is not gaining support among members of the Russian government, legislature, or law enforcement. A blanket crypto ban, as proposed by the bank, would make a laughingstock of Russia, lawmakers have warned. Bank...
Lawyer Accuses Huobi of Operating a Cryptocurrency Exchange That’s ‘Held Accountable Nowhere’
23.1.2022
Houbi Global, which is based in Seychelles, has been accused by lawyer Jonathan Levy of operating without accountability to any jurisdiction. The lawyer adds that the exchange’s physical address in the island nation is for mailing purposes only. Accountability Issues U.S.-based lawyer...
MTI Mastermind Arrest: Lawyer Points to Agreement Relating to Johann Steynberg’s Extradition to South Africa
16.1.2022
With Johann Steynberg now in custody in Brazil, a lawyer has suggested that South Africa may have to resort to an existing legal assistance agreement with Brazil if it wishes to have the CEO extradited. However, the success of any such extradition will depend on the next steps taken by authorities...
Russia Busts Revil Ransomware Group on US Request, Arrests 14 Members
15.1.2022
Russian law enforcement agencies have dismantled the notorious hacking group Revil, believed to be behind ransomware attacks in the U.S. involving cryptocurrency. Although Moscow is unlikely to hand over Russian citizens to Washington, the operation has been carried out on request from the United...
Tether Freezes USD 160M-Heavy Addresses on Law Enforcement Request
14.1.2022
Stablecoin issuer Tether (USDT) froze three addresses on Ethereum (ETH), which together hold USD 160m worth of assets.
This has been confirmed by Tether, stating that they have done so upon request from law enforcement, per Coindesk.
Per data analytics site Bloxy, Tether itself has so...
Pakistanis Lose Millions to Crypto Scam, Pakistan Issues Notice to Binance
8.1.2022
Investors from Pakistan have become victims of a massive fraud using cryptocurrency. The country’s main law enforcement agency has issued a notice to crypto exchange Binance in relation to the scam which resulted in the loss of $100 million dollars for Pakistanis, media reports revealed....
CEO of Mirror Trading International Bitcoin Ponzi Scheme Arrested in Brazil
8.1.2022
Johann Steynberg, the wanted CEO of Mirror Trading International was recently arrested by Brazilian law enforcement after he was caught using a fake document. The arrest, which took place in the country’s Goiás province, was carried out by the Brazilian military police. Fake...
Cryptocurrency Worth $435 Million Seized by 12 UK Police Forces in Five Years
8.1.2022
U.K. police have revealed how much cryptocurrency they have seized in the past five years in response to Freedom of Information requests. The London Metropolitan Police seized more bitcoins than other police boroughs. UK Police Reveal Information About Seized Crypto Twelve of the U.K.’s...
Report: Illicit Crypto Addresses Received $14 Billion in 2021, Only 0.15% of Transaction Volume Associated With Crime
8.1.2022
According to the latest data from Chainalysis, the total cryptocurrency value received by illicit addresses grew to a new all-time high of $14 billion in 2021. Although the new all-time high is almost twice the $7.8 billion that was recorded in 2020, it represents just 0.15% of the 2021...
UAE to Jail Promoters of Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Schemes for Five Years, Offenders to Pay Over $270K in Fines
26.12.2021
Fraudsters promoting online cryptocurrency scams in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) now face a possible five-year jail sentence plus a fine of up to $272,000, according to a report. The new measures, which are set to take effect on January 2, 2022, are part of the government’s effort...
FBI Collaborates With Citibank, Sony, Japanese Authorities to Seize $180 Million in Bitcoin
23.12.2021
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in collaboration with Citibank, Sony, and Japanese law enforcement, has taken action to “return more than $154 million in funds that were allegedly stolen from a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation.” The U.S. Department...
Russia, Ukraine Shut Down Several Cryptocurrency Farms
5.12.2021
Authorities in Russia and Ukraine have closed down a number of illegal crypto mining facilities allegedly powered by stolen electricity. The underground farms have been discovered around the capital cities, Kyiv and Moscow, as well as in the Russian republic of Dagestan. Russia Busts Illegal Mining...
Jailed Onecoin Mastermind Accused of Using Contraband Mobile Phone to Move $20 Million
25.11.2021
Karl Sebastian Greenwood, one of the masterminds behind the Onecoin pyramid scheme, recently used a contraband mobile phone to move at least $20 million while holed up in a prison in the United States, an attorney for one of the scheme’s victims has said. Onecoin Mastermind Taking Advantage...
Canada Detains Teen for Alleged $36 Million Cryptocurrency Theft
21.11.2021
A teenager has been arrested in Canada after committing what law enforcement officials in Ontario have described as the largest crypto theft by a single person. The Canadian is accused of stealing tens of millions of dollars through a SIM swap targeting a crypto holder in the U.S. Teen Arrested...
Kyrgyzstan Shuts Down Cryptocurrency Farm With 2,500 Mining Rigs
17.11.2021
Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have uncovered and shut down a large crypto mining farm in the north of the country. Law enforcement officials claim the illegal coin minting facility has inflicted “colossal damage” to the nation’s power grid and that they are still trying to estimate...