Crimes News

Crimes that are made within cryptocurrency and related spheres are usually defined as cryptocurrency crimes. The legal status of digital currencies is not clear enough and governments all over the world are searching for a way to regulate operations in the cryptosphere. That is why most of the crimes cannot be forecasted or punished properly. The most common crypto-crime until the end of 2017 has been in relation to Initial Coin Offerings (ICO), which were conducted by frauds and by stealing money from electronic wallets and storages through hacking or fraudulently-obtained information. Besides that, a lot of users’ money was stolen when using unverified exchanges and making transactions through suspicious services. Also, people lost money by joining financial cryptocurrency pyramids.

Japan: Crypto Thefts Have Tripled This Year, Totalling $540 Million So Far

SEP 20, 2018 | by Marie Huillet

Japan’s National Police Agency has revealed that a staggering 60.503 billion yen ($540 million) worth of crypto was stolen in the first six months of 2018.

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Europol: Bitcoin Remains Cybercriminals’ First Choice, But Privacy-Focused Alts Will Rise

SEP 19, 2018 | by Marie Huillet

A new cybercrime report from Europol predicts cybercriminals will increasingly turn to anonymity-focused altcoins such as Zcash (ZEC) and Monero (XMR).

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Cryptocurrency Mining Malware Detections Up Almost 500 Percent in 2018: Report

SEP 19, 2018 | by William Suberg

The tool that exploits Microsoft vulnerabilities to enable widespread crypto extortion has let malware proliferate this year, says a new report.

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Reuters: Brazil’s Antitrust Agency Launches Probe Into Major Banks Regarding Crypto Trade

SEP 19, 2018 | by Helen Partz

Brazil’s antitrust authority has reportedly launched an investigation into six major banks on alleged monopolistic activity in crypto markets.

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Dubai Police Chief: Digital Currency Will ‘Soon Replace’ Cash Despite Hurdles

SEP 17, 2018 | by William Suberg

A Dubai police chief has gone on record to forecast “electronic money” taking over from cash “soon,” local media report.

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India: Former Legislator Remanded in Custody in Connection With Bitcoin Extortion Case

SEP 11, 2018 | by Ana Alexandre

Former Indian politician Nalin Kotadiya has been remanded in custody for his alleged involvement in a 200 BTC extortion case.

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IT Analyst Jason Bloomberg: What I’m Really Saying Is ‘Shut Down Permissionless Blockchains’

SEP 08, 2018 | by Olivia Capozzalo

IT industry analyst Jason Bloomberg tells CT why he doesn’t believe in trustless systems and how he sees permissionless blockchains being “shut down.”

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Thai Money Laundering Watchdog Looks to Tackle Crypto-Related Crimes

SEP 03, 2018 | by Ana Berman

Thailand’s local AML regulator wants to change the law in order to be able to confiscate digital assets along with physical ones.

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BitAngels’ Michael Terpin: Negligence of Major Phone Companies Is Crypto’s Biggest Threat

AUG 31, 2018 | by Olivia Capozzalo

Cointelegraph talks with American blockchain investor MIchael Terpin about why he’s suing AT&T and where he sees Bitcoin in 3-5 years.

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Japan’s National Police Agency to Employ New Software to Track Crypto Transactions

AUG 31, 2018 | by Ana Alexandre

Japan’s National Police Agency is looking to use special software to track crypto transactions in order to fight the illicit use of crypto.

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Brazilian Crypto Platform Atlas Quantum Reveals Data Breach Affecting 260K Customers

AUG 27, 2018 | by Ana Berman

Crypto trading platform Atlas Quantum admitted a major leak in their database that has reportedly affected more than 261,000 customers.

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China: Central Bank, Gov’t Caution Public Over Fake Cryptocurrency Schemes

AUG 24, 2018 | by William Suberg

Chinese citizens should be “rational” when assessing blockchain-based entities, says a new warning from authorities.

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California Police Arrest Teenage ‘SIM Swapper’ Who Allegedly Stole Crypto From Cell Phones

AUG 23, 2018 | by William Suberg

A teenager who traded 157 BTC in the past three months has been arrested for alleged theft of Bitcoin from consumer devices.

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BlockShow Americas 2018 Goes Live With ‘Wall Street vs Crypto’ Panel Discussion

AUG 20, 2018 | by Helen Partz

Blockchain and finance experts debate major issues surrounding the potential “merge” of the two industries at a Blockshow Americas ‘18 panel discussion.

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Police Arrest Alleged India Head of Now-Defunct Bitconnect Scam

AUG 20, 2018 | by Marie Huillet

Indian police have arrested a man who was allegedly involved in promoting the Bitconnect investment scam.

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Russia: Blogger Who ‘Boasted’ About Crypto Wealth Beaten and Robbed For $425k

JAN 15, 2018 | by William Suberg

Attackers have mugged a cryptocurrency millionaire for almost half a million dollars during a visit to his home in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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Woman in Denmark Imprisoned for Hiring Hitman Using Bitcoin

DEC 16, 2017 | by Jon Buck

An Italian woman in Denmark has received a six year sentence for hiring a hitman and paying in Bitcoin.

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Bitcoin Price ‘More Likely To Hit $100’ Without Illicit Uses, Says Harvard Economist

MAR 06, 2018 | by William Suberg

The price of Bitcoin is “more likely to be worth $100 than $100,000” with increased regulation and less criminal use, a Harvard economist told CNBC.

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Moscow Man Mutilated And Mugged For $1 Million In Bitcoin, Local Sources Report

FEB 23, 2018 | by William Suberg

A man has lost $1 mln worth of Bitcoin to muggers who attacked him when he refused to part with it, local sources report

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Kidnapping of Bitcoin Exchange Executive Showed Importance of Financial Privacy

DEC 31, 2017 | by Joseph Young

UK-based Bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange Exmo Operator Pavel Lerner, who was kidnapped outside of his office in Kiev, Ukraine, on Dec. 28, has paid $1 mln i...

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Bitcoin Account Holder Loses $100K Over Public Wireless Network

NOV 24, 2017 | by Joshua Althauser

An unidentified 36-year-old man who owns has lost over $117,000 in Bitcoins while he was logged in on a public wireless network.

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In Apparent Exit Scam CEO Of German Startup Is ‘Over And Out’ After $50 Mln ICO

APR 18, 2018 | by Molly Jane Zuckerman

In apparent exit scam, German startup Savedroid founder posts a Tweet saying “over and out” аfter raising $50 mln in ICO.

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EU Looking to Protect Banks from Bitcoin: Former MI5 Agent

DEC 19, 2017 | by Gareth Jenkinson

The European Union’s plans to tighten up cryptocurrency regulation is in the interest of big banks, according to a former MI5 officer.

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Russian Crypto Blogger Found Dead In Petersburg Apartment

MAY 03, 2018 | by Marie Huillet

The 23-year old Russian crypto blogger known online as Pavel Nyashin has been found dead in the apartment he shared with his mother in St. Petersburg.

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US Treasury Department Investigates Illegal Uses of Bitcoin

NOV 11, 2017 | by Lisa Froelings

US Treasury Department Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that his department is conducting an investigation on the illegal applications of the leading cryptocu...

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Dubai: Police Use AI Tech To Locate And Arrest Gang Suspected Of $1.9 Mln Armed Bitcoin Heist

APR 29, 2018 | by Marie Huillet

Dubai police have arrested ten gang members suspected of a Bitcoin heist, in which they allegedly assaulted two men at gunpoint, escaping with $1.9 mln in cash.

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World’s Sixth Largest Crypto Exchange Bithumb Hacked, Loses $30 Mln

JUN 20, 2018 | by Aaron Wood

Leading South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has been hacked, culprits stole $30 million worth of crypto.

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Illicit Uses of Cryptocurrency Gaining Attention Around the World: Expert Take

FEB 20, 2018 | by Selva Ozelli

Financial investigators of over 30 nations discussed how to combat the misuse of cryptocurrencies by criminals

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Russian Crypto Developer Beaten, Robbed Of 300 BTC On Moscow Streets

FEB 27, 2018 | by Molly Jane Zuckerman

Russian crypto developer Yury Mayorov was kidnapped in Moscow, beaten, robbed of 300 BTC, and forced by the robbers to take an unknown pill after with a swig of...

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German Researchers: Child Abuse Content Found On Bitcoin Blockchain, Users Must Be Protected

MAR 20, 2018 | by William Suberg

A group of German researchers have uncovered illegal child abuse content on the Bitcoin Blockchain, said measures must appear to protect users.

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Bitcoin Price ‘More Likely To Hit $100’ Without Illicit Uses, Says Harvard Economist

MAR 06, 2018 | by William Suberg

The price of Bitcoin is “more likely to be worth $100 than $100,000” with increased regulation and less criminal use, a Harvard economist told CNBC.

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EU Looking to Protect Banks from Bitcoin: Former MI5 Agent

DEC 19, 2017 | by Gareth Jenkinson

The European Union’s plans to tighten up cryptocurrency regulation is in the interest of big banks, according to a former MI5 officer.

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Bitcoin Account Holder Loses $100K Over Public Wireless Network

NOV 24, 2017 | by Joshua Althauser

An unidentified 36-year-old man who owns has lost over $117,000 in Bitcoins while he was logged in on a public wireless network.

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IT Analyst Jason Bloomberg: What I’m Really Saying Is ‘Shut Down Permissionless Blockchains’

SEP 08, 2018 | by Olivia Capozzalo

IT industry analyst Jason Bloomberg tells CT why he doesn’t believe in trustless systems and how he sees permissionless blockchains being “shut down.”

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German Researchers: Child Abuse Content Found On Bitcoin Blockchain, Users Must Be Protected

MAR 20, 2018 | by William Suberg

A group of German researchers have uncovered illegal child abuse content on the Bitcoin Blockchain, said measures must appear to protect users.

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Russia: Blogger Who ‘Boasted’ About Crypto Wealth Beaten and Robbed For $425k

JAN 15, 2018 | by William Suberg

Attackers have mugged a cryptocurrency millionaire for almost half a million dollars during a visit to his home in St. Petersburg, Russia.

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Moscow Man Mutilated And Mugged For $1 Million In Bitcoin, Local Sources Report

FEB 23, 2018 | by William Suberg

A man has lost $1 mln worth of Bitcoin to muggers who attacked him when he refused to part with it, local sources report

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Woman in Denmark Imprisoned for Hiring Hitman Using Bitcoin

DEC 16, 2017 | by Jon Buck

An Italian woman in Denmark has received a six year sentence for hiring a hitman and paying in Bitcoin.

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Chinese Police Arrest Bitcoin Miner Who ‘Stole’ 150 MW of Electricity

JUN 22, 2018 | by William Suberg

A Bitcoin miner who failed to pay electricity costs has been arrested by police in China’s Anhui Province.

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Crypto-Related Crimes to Exceed All Other Cyberattacks in 2018, Says Israeli Expert

JUN 23, 2018 | by Helen Partz

An Israeli cybersecurity expert says crypto-related crimes will exceed the number of all other cyberattacks in 2018

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Bitcoin Can Be Confiscated From Suspects: Hungarian Justice Ministry Proposal

MAR 04, 2017 | by Guest Author

The new Hungarian law will make it possible to confiscate Bitcoins and other virtual currencies from suspects in the early stages of the criminal process.

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US DoJ Charges 12 Russian Officials With Cryptocurrency-Funded Elections ‘Interference’

JUL 13, 2018 | by Molly Jane Zuckerman

The U.S. Department of Justice has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with crypto-funded attempts to “interfere” in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections.

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Illicit Uses of Cryptocurrency Gaining Attention Around the World: Expert Take

FEB 20, 2018 | by Selva Ozelli

Financial investigators of over 30 nations discussed how to combat the misuse of cryptocurrencies by criminals

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Coinbase Faces Another Lawsuit, Users Allege Platform ‘Kept’ Unclaimed Coins Sent By Email

MAR 05, 2018 | by William Suberg

Two Coinbase users have lodged yet another lawsuit against the platform, arguing it illegally appropriated unclaimed funds.

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Philippines: Senator Proposes Stricter Penalties For Crimes Involving Crypto

MAR 14, 2018 | by Helen Partz

Philippine Senator Leila de Lima proposed imposing stricter penalties for crimes involving crypto.

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