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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...
Binance to Launch New Cryptocurrency Exchange in Thailand After Thai SEC Filed Criminal Complaint
19.1.2022
Crypto exchange Binance is launching a new exchange in Thailand after the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a complaint against the company for operating without a license. Binance has now signed an agreement with Gulf Energy Development, a Thai public company,...
Business Advisory Firm Expects Criminal Cryptocurrency Transactions to Fall by 30% by 2024
17.1.2022
Gartner, an advisory firm, has predicted that criminal cryptocurrency transactions or transfers will fall by 30% by 2024. The firm says factors such as the transparency of the blockchain, as well as the democratization of fraud prevention tools, will contribute to this decline in such transactions....
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...
Investors in Collapsed South African Crypto Platform Push for Jailing of Africrypt Directors
8.1.2022
A group of investors in Africrypt are reportedly pushing to have criminal charges pressed against directors of the now-defunct cryptocurrency investment platform. Opponents of the move have argued that this push is unlikely to succeed because many of the investors have already been reimbursed part...
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...
German Prosecutors Hire Local Bank to ‘Clean’ Seized Crypto Worth $113 Million
24.12.2021
German prosecutors have hired a bank to “clean” cryptocurrency seized in criminal cases. “As the cryptocurrencies are related to crime, they are considered ‘contaminated coins’ and cannot be traded on mainstream exchanges,” the bank said. Bank Hired...
Prosecutor General’s Office Wants to See ‘Cryptocurrency’ in Russian Law
10.12.2021
The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation has insisted that the term “cryptocurrency” should be added to the country’s legislation. The move would allow authorities in Moscow to confiscate digital assets that have been involved in criminal activities....
Biden Administration Unveils Plan to Focus on ‘Prosecutions of Criminal Misuses of Cryptocurrency’
8.12.2021
The Biden-Harris administration has unveiled its strategy on “countering corruption.” It includes utilizing the government’s newly established task force, the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, to focus on “complex investigations and prosecutions of criminal...
Another Unnamed Investor Offers to Bail Out Collapsed South Africa Crypto Firm
8.12.2021
A new unnamed investor has offered to bail out Africrypt, the collapsed South Africa-based crypto investment company, with $5 million. The offer, which does not require criminal charges against Africrypt directors to be dropped, must be accepted within seven days. A Better Offer A new mystery...
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...
IRS Expects to Seize Billions of Dollars in Cryptocurrency Next Year — More Than $3.5 Billion in Crypto Seized This Year
22.11.2021
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has revealed that $3.5 billion in crypto was seized during the fiscal year 2021. This represents 93% of all funds seized by its criminal investigation unit during the same time period. The agency expects to seize billions of dollars more in cryptocurrency next...
Russia’s Prosecutor General Wants Cryptocurrency Recognized as Property Under Criminal Law
18.11.2021
The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia has proposed to define cryptocurrency as property in the country’s Criminal Code. Decentralized digital money has already been qualified as such in the provisions of several other laws although various aspects of cryptocurrencies remain...
Dutch Authorities Seize Cryptocurrency Worth Over 25 Million Euros
14.11.2021
Dutch authorities have seized more than 25 million euros in cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin and ether, from dozens of suspects in criminal cases. “Cryptocurrencies are widely used as a means of payment for various types of crime,” said the Netherlands’ Public Prosecution...
Unnamed South African Investor Proposes Buying 51% Stake in Collapsed Crypto Firm for $5 Million
12.11.2021
An unknown investor has proposed to acquire a 51% stake in Africrypt — the collapsed cryptocurrency investment company — for a purchase price of $5 million. However, in exchange for the offer, the investor wants all criminal proceedings against Africrypt directors dropped. Offer Must...
Bank of England Governor Warns Crypto Is Providing Means of Payment for Criminals
11.11.2021
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned that crypto assets are providing another means of payment for people who want to conduct criminal activity. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey Sees Crypto Helping Criminal Activities The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, said...
Ukraine Security Service Busts Criminal Group Selling Bitcoin-Stealing Malware
27.10.2021
Law enforcement authorities in Ukraine have exposed a crime ring specializing in cryptocurrency theft and laundering of illicit funds for hackers. The gang, which provided services to clients on the darknet, has been dismantled as a result of a joint operation carried out with the United States....
US Launches National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team to Prosecute ‘Criminal Misuses of Cryptocurrency’
7.10.2021
The U.S. has launched the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, an initiative of the Department of Justice (DOJ), to tackle and prosecute “criminal misuses of cryptocurrency, particularly crimes committed by virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services, and money...
FBI Works With Europol to Arrest Ransomware Gang, $1.3 Million in Cryptocurrencies Seized
6.10.2021
A coordinated strike involving Europol, Interpol, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has led to the arrest of two “prolific” ransomware operators allegedly responsible for ransom demands of up to 70 million euros. In addition, $1.3 million in cryptocurrencies were...
Law Enforcement in Russia’s Samara Region Investigates 8 Cases of Fraud Related to Finiko
28.9.2021
The investigation into the Russia-based crypto pyramid Finiko is growing with law enforcement officials in Samara region announcing they have launched eight criminal cases against Finiko associates. Authorities are also working to identify more victims of the Ponzi scheme, Russia’s largest...