New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday that scammers have defrauded New Yorkers of $2.2 million in cryptocurrency through a job scam targeting remote workers. The scheme involved sending text messages offering job opportunities and persuading victims to deposit funds into cryptocurrency accounts.
Victims were instructed to purchase stablecoins such as Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) on licensed platforms, including Coinbase, Gemini, and Crypto.com. However, they were later tricked into transferring the assets to un-hosted wallets controlled by the scammers.
Attorney General James has filed a lawsuit seeking to recover the stolen funds, which are currently frozen, and to impose penalties and restitution on the perpetrators. “Deceiving New Yorkers looking to take on remote work and earn money to support their families is cruel and unacceptable,” James said.
Investigative Collaboration Uncovers Scam Tactics
The Office of the Attorney General worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office to investigate the case. The scam, operating across multiple jurisdictions, targeted individuals seeking remote job opportunities, exploiting their economic vulnerabilities.
Victims were lured into opening cryptocurrency accounts and depositing funds under the guise of writing product reviews. Scammers falsely claimed the reviews would generate “market data” to help boost sales, assuring victims they were not actually purchasing the products but legitimizing data collection efforts.
Overall, authorities are continuing their efforts to recover the stolen assets and hold the scammers accountable. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Attorney General’s office to aid in the investigation and prevention of future fraud.
The case highlights the importance of exercising caution when engaging with unsolicited job offers, particularly those involving cryptocurrency transactions.
