Originally published on: December 16, 2024
In a bizarre turn of events in Scottsdale, Arizona, a man allegedly pretended to be an Uber driver and made off with a whopping $300,000 in cryptocurrency from unsuspecting passengers. The Scottsdale Police Department reported that Nuruhussein Hussein targeted victims waiting outside the W Hotel in March and October, using the guise of their Uber driver and even addressing them by name.
According to authorities, Nuruhussein Hussein managed to deceive two victims by picking them up outside the W Hotel in Scottsdale and manipulating them into transferring $300,000 in crypto. His tactics included asking to use their phones, claiming his own was broken, and offering to fix the Uber app when questioned by a passenger.
Reportedly, Hussein used his victims’ phones to access their Coinbase accounts and execute phone-to-phone crypto transfers as well as transfers to cold storage. The court documents did not reveal how Hussein obtained the passengers’ names, suggesting a level of premeditation on his part.
When suspicions arose, Hussein allegedly resorted to threats to dissuade his victims from taking action, warning one of them of dire consequences if they insisted on retrieving their phone. Subsequently, Scottsdale detectives and US Secret Service agents apprehended Hussein on charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.
To prevent his potential escape or destruction of evidence, prosecutors secured a $200,000 cash bond and imposed internet and travel restrictions on Hussein. The ongoing investigation aims to shed more light on the incident as Hussein awaits his court appearance in December.
This shocking case adds to the list of offline crypto thefts recorded worldwide, with incidents dating back to 2014. As we continue to witness such bold attempts at cryptocurrency theft, it’s crucial for users to remain vigilant and practice caution in all dealings involving digital assets.
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