NEW YORK — Authorities have unveiled an extensive scheme where scammers embezzled millions in cryptocurrency from individuals searching for remote job opportunities. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit aimed at recouping over $2 million lost by victims, primarily in New York and other states across the nation.
The scam involved an unidentified group that utilized unsolicited text messages to target job seekers interested in remote work. As outlined by James’ office, potential victims were led to believe that the opportunity entailed reviewing products online to help generate valuable “market data.” However, in order to begin earning, these individuals were instructed to open cryptocurrency accounts and maintain a balance equal to or exceeding the cost of the products they were supposedly reviewing.
Victims were promised that they would recover their initial investments alongside a commission, yet the reality was that these funds were funneled directly into the scammers’ cryptocurrency wallets. Furthermore, the product reviews were conducted on a website contrived specifically for the fraudulent operation.
The lawsuit mentions seven victims, who have been assigned pseudonyms, hailing from New York, Virginia, and Florida. Notably, one resident of New York reported losing upwards of $100,000, while a victim from Florida claimed a staggering loss of over $300,000.
“Taking advantage of New Yorkers who are merely trying to find remote work to support their families is both cruel and totally unacceptable,” James stated in a press release. “Scammers manipulated New Yorkers by sending texts that promised lucrative and flexible jobs, only to deceive them into investing in cryptocurrency and subsequently stealing their investments.”
In her pursuit of justice, James aims to return the stolen money to the affected individuals. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz elaborated that her office’s cryptocurrency unit successfully traced more than $2 million in the stolen digital currency and identified the wallets where these assets were being stored. In collaboration with Attorney General James’ office, they managed to freeze the funds until they can be redistributed to the victims.
“Scams that exploit individuals searching for legitimate employment not only rob victims of their hard-earned finances but also erode their trust in the job market,” Katz remarked, underscoring the broader impact of such fraudulent schemes.
