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A fake Uber driver has been arrested in Arizona for allegedly stealing $300,000 in cryptocurrency from two victims by gaining access to their phones and making unauthorized transfers.
According to the police report, Nuruhussein Hussein posed as an Uber driver outside the W Hotel Scottsdale, where he targeted two separate individuals who were waiting for their rides. The suspect allegedly asked his passengers to borrow their phones, claiming that his device was not working properly in one instance, and offering to help troubleshoot a problem with the app in another.
Once he had access to the victims’ phones, Hussein allegedly transferred cryptocurrency from their Coinbase accounts to cold storage wallets. Investigators have yet to reveal how he obtained the names of his passengers before posing as their Uber driver.
Hussein has been charged with multiple counts of theft, fraud, and money laundering, and is currently being held on a $200,000 bond pending further investigation.
The case highlights the growing trend of offline cryptocurrency theft, with 19 documented cases reported globally in the past year. The use of impersonation and threats to maintain control over victims’ phones follows patterns seen in other similar incidents.
This method of theft is a significant departure from traditional digital attacks, which often rely on hacking or phishing emails. Instead, criminals are now using physical methods to gain access to their targets’ devices and sensitive information.
Local authorities have urged anyone who may have been affected by Hussein’s scheme to come forward and share their experiences with investigators.
Source: blockonomi.com
