Fraud

Elon Musk

2026-09-21 04:28:48

Musk says fraud rings of nearly every nationality are stealing U.S. taxpayer funds

Techub News, citing a post from @Kalshi, reported that Elon Musk said fraud groups made up of members from "nearly every nationality" are stealing money from U.S. taxpayers. The remark was presented without additional detail on how the alleged fraud works or which entities are involved. Musk also did not say whether the activity has any connection to cryptocurrency or artificial intelligence. No supporting evidence, figures, or timeline were provided in the brief update. At the time of the report, the statement stood as a broad allegation relayed by @Kalshi, with no added explanation from Musk in the item cited by Techub News.

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Polymarket

2026-09-21 03:48:01

WSJ says Polymarket faced $10 million fraud attempt as CFTC probe advances

A Wall Street Journal investigation says prediction market platform Polymarket was targeted in February by a fraud ring that tried to steal at least $10 million using stolen debit cards on its U.S. platform. The report says CEO Shayne Coplan told staff to prioritize growth and deal with regulatory fines later, even as internal compliance concerns mounted. Checkout.com reportedly flagged the activity, rejecting more than 80% of deposits during one period, far above an industry norm of about 1%. The Journal also described a separate attack in late July that affected nearly 500 users. According to the report, attackers exploited an account registration flaw that allowed access to existing customer accounts, including linked bank accounts and debit cards, by attempting to open a new account with stolen personal information such as Social Security numbers. Polymarket told the Journal it would reimburse stolen funds. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has already opened an investigation, and employees have reportedly been instructed to preserve records tied to the fraud incidents and other matters. The scrutiny comes as Polymarket seeks roughly $1 billion in new funding at a valuation of about $21 billion and discusses preparations for a possible 2027 IPO.

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Spain

2026-09-20 03:41:44

Spanish police break up two crypto-related crime cases involving 48 suspects

Spanish law enforcement has dismantled two separate crypto-related crime cases, according to CriptoNoticias. The operations were carried out by the Spanish Civil Guard and the National Police, which together arrested or identified 48 people tied to the investigations. One of the cases involved a Ponzi scheme that caused losses of about €327,000 for 113 investors. The other centered on a criminal network that allegedly used phishing attacks and fake rental advertisements to defraud victims. Authorities said the group converted illicit proceeds into crypto assets in an effort to avoid tracing, with total losses in that case exceeding €430,000. The report points to two distinct investigations, each handled by a different Spanish security body, and highlights the use of crypto as part of the laundering or concealment process rather than as the sole mechanism of the fraud itself.

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arbitrage bot

2026-09-19 13:01:00

Fake Uniswap ENS names used in arbitrage bot scam that stole over $500,000

On-chain investigator Specter said an arbitrage bot scam has led to losses of more than $500,000. The attackers reportedly used YouTube videos to distribute supposed tutorials and code, then directed victims to compile and deploy contracts through a fake Remix development interface. To make the setup look legitimate, they registered ENS names containing "Uniswap" and used those addresses to imitate inbound transfers tied to real DeFi activity. That gave victims the impression that the deployed bot was generating profits through Uniswap. Once victims sent their own funds into the contract, the assets were drained by the attackers. Specter added that the operators appear to still be active and continue to hold a sizable share of the stolen funds across two addresses.

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Albuquerque

2026-09-14 06:44:03

Albuquerque bans crypto ATMs and over-the-counter crypto trading services

Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed Ordinance O-26-49 on Sept. 10, banning the operation, hosting, or facilitation of crypto ATMs and over-the-counter cryptocurrency trading services within city limits. According to Bitcoin.com News, City Councilor Stephanie W. Telles said about 90% of such transactions in the area are tied to fraud. The ordinance gives operators 45 days from its effective date to remove affected machines, and individuals or entities that violate the rule face cumulative fines. City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn said the measure is meant to remove physical infrastructure that supports fraudulent activity. The ban does not affect residents’ ability to hold, own, mine, or transfer digital assets through other means. The report also noted that the number of crypto ATMs in the United States has fallen from 38,708 to 27,945 after Bitcoin Depot ceased operations.

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AT&T

2026-09-11 13:54:18

Former AT&T employee gets 16 months in prison over SIM-swapping scheme

A former AT&T retail store employee has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for taking part in a SIM-swapping fraud scheme, according to Techub, citing CryptoBriefing. The defendant was also ordered to pay $99,528 in restitution. Prosecutors said the employee gave hackers internal access while working at AT&T, a move that exposed three victims to nearly $600,000 in losses. An FBI investigation found that the employee was paid between $1,000 and $2,000 for each SIM swap carried out. Those swaps helped hackers intercept bank two-factor authentication codes and steal funds. Investigators said $99,528 was transferred to an account in Portugal. Law enforcement officers also found victims’ personal information at the employee’s home. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General.

820

Albuquerque

2026-09-11 10:21:35

Albuquerque passes ordinance banning crypto ATMs across the city, orders removal within 45 days

The Albuquerque City Council in New Mexico approved an ordinance on Wednesday that bans cryptocurrency ATMs, or crypto kiosks, from operating within city limits and also bars virtual currency transactions assisted by cashiers. Under the measure, the city will notify known operators and retailers hosting the machines and require them to remove the devices within 45 days. The ordinance was introduced by District 1 Councilor Stephanie Telles and District 7 Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. Telles said 90% of crypto ATM transactions in Albuquerque are linked to fraud, adding that the machines are used primarily by scammers, organized crime groups, and human traffickers because the transactions are instant, anonymous, and irreversible. Fiebelkorn said the city cannot wait for federal regulators to resolve the problem. The council said residents will still be free to hold, mine, and transfer cryptocurrencies through online exchanges and personal wallets. The move comes as Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota have already enacted statewide bans on such machines, while Delaware, New Jersey, and Texas are advancing or considering similar restrictions. Bitcoin Depot, one of the largest operators in North America, filed for bankruptcy protection in May and removed about 9,700 machines. FBI data shows nearly 11,000 kiosk fraud complaints in 2024 involving more than $246 million.

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cryptocurrenc

2026-09-06 16:00:00

Ukrainian Police Bust Crypto Scam Siphoning $1M Monthly

Ukrainian police disrupted a cryptocurrency scam that allegedly stole up to $1 million per month. Authorities identified 62 victims and said over 46 Ukrainians were involved in the operation.

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