Alleged Crypto Scammer Posed As Coinbase Support To Steal $2M

An alleged scammer posing as a Coinbase assist desk employee has reportedly stolen round $2 million in crypto from customers of the trade, based on blockchain sleuth ZachXBT. 

In a Monday X put up, ZachXBT claimed that he had managed to pinpoint the identification of the alleged scammer after cross referencing Telegram group chat display screen pictures, social media posts and pockets transactions.  

ZachXBT alleged that the “Canadian risk actor” had “stolen $2M+ through Coinbase help impersonation social engineering scams prior to now 12 months blowing the funds on uncommon social media usernames, bottle service, & playing,”

The Canadian allegedly deployed social engineering tactics to dupe Coinbase customers into believing he labored for the trade. In his put up, ZachXBT shared a leaked video of the alleged scammer on the telephone with the sufferer providing pretend buyer help. 

Whereas the specifics weren’t detailed, social engineering typically consists of scammers posing as somebody from a authentic organisation to realize belief and elicit personal knowledge from unsuspecting victims, or to make doubtful transactions. 

“Within the display screen recording he leaks the e-mail…. and his Telegram account with a quantity,” ZachXBT wrote. 

The alleged scammer tried to cover their tracks by regularly shopping for “costly Telegram usernames” and deleting outdated accounts. Nonetheless, ZachXBT claimed it was straightforward to pinpoint their identification and actions attributable to fixed gloating on social media, and posted screenshots of quite a few examples of “tales and selfies flaunting his life-style with little regard for opsec and was additionally caught simping for eGirls.”

ZachXBT even claimed to labored out the alleged scammer’s dwelling deal with utilizing publicly obtainable info, however didn’t share them attributable to X’s phrases of service. 

How can customers shield themselves towards social engineering? 

Whereas seasoned crypto veterans know the most effective practices to guard themselves after years of trial and error, newcomers usually want a heads-up.

Associated: Social engineering cost crypto billions in 2025: How to protect yourself

It’s essential for customers to be very vigilant about safe-keeping their personal knowledge, don’t use the identical password for a number of companies and preserve important holdings off an trade in a hardware wallet. 

As a rule of thumb, it is essential to by no means click on on hyperlinks despatched to you or reply to chilly calls. All the time contact buyer help immediately by means of verified avenues resembling on the precise web site or app.