In Scottsdale, Arizona, a man was arrested after allegedly masquerading as an Uber driver to steal approximately $300,000 worth of cryptocurrency from two passengers. The incidents occurred outside the W Hotel in Scottsdale, with the first in March and another in October, as reported by Fox10 Phoenix on December 12.
Modus Operandi
Nuruhussein Hussein reportedly lured victims by calling them by name, pretending to be the Uber driver they had booked. After gaining their trust and getting them into his car, Hussein allegedly asked to use the passengers’ phones on the pretext that his device was broken. In one instance, he offered to help troubleshoot the Uber app when a passenger noticed the app showed the driver had not yet arrived. Using the passengers’ phones, Hussein is accused of transferring cryptocurrency from their Coinbase accounts to another phone and ultimately to cold storage.
Hussein was apprehended on December 11 by Scottsdale detectives and U.S. Secret Service agents, facing charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering. The court has set a $200,000 secured cash bond with electronic monitoring conditions should he make bail. Moreover, he has been restricted from internet access and international travel, particularly to Ethiopia where he is known to travel frequently, to prevent the potential destruction of evidence or his escape.
According to data from GitHub, there have been at least 19 recorded offline crypto robberies globally in the last year, indicating a fluctuating but persistent threat of in-person crypto thefts dating back to 2014. This includes a notable early attempt to extort Hal Finney, a renowned computer scientist and cryptographer, for 1,000 Bitcoin in 2014, valued at $400,000 at the time. Another recent incident on December 3 involved thieves in Melbourne, Australia, who stole a Bitcoin ATM by driving through a shopping center window, later found destroyed in a park.
Author’s Opinion
The incidents of crypto theft, particularly through deceptive tactics such as those allegedly used by Hussein, underscore a dual aspect of cryptocurrency security. While digital currencies offer innovative financial opportunities, they also introduce unique vulnerabilities. Unlike traditional bank thefts, crypto theft can be instantly global, leaving fewer traces and complicating recovery efforts. This case serves as a critical reminder for crypto holders to maintain vigilance over their digital wallets and to be cautious of seemingly innocuous interactions that could lead to significant financial loss.
