0
0
Highlights:
A Brooklyn resident has been accused of running a $16 million crypto phishing scam. He targeted more than 100 Coinbase users. Ronald Spektor, 23, reportedly tricked victims into sending digital assets to wallets he controlled. He used fear and impersonation to convince them. Prosecutors said Spektor, who goes online as ālolimfeelingevil,ā called people pretending to be Coinbase staff. He told them hackers were trying to steal their funds. He then instructed victims to transfer their digital assets to accounts he claimed were secure under his control.
Brooklyn man charged with defrauding about 100 crypto investors out of millions of dollars https://t.co/wyoZonl7DQ pic.twitter.com/jdtV3qvVYa
ā Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) December 19, 2025
Once he got the digital assets, the suspect reportedly laundered them. He used cryptocurrency mixers, swapping platforms, and gambling websites. Authorities said Spektor openly bragged about his actions in a Telegram group called Blockchain Enemies. He admitted losing about $6 million in digital assets to gambling.
One victim contacted blockchain investigator ZachXBT, who shared details of the scam last year. This person reported losing more than $6 million. Prosecutors said other victims were located across the country, with many losing millions because of Spektorās scheme.
A Pennsylvania resident said that in September last year, he got a call from someone claiming to be Fred Wilson of Coinbase. The caller used fake two-factor authentication texts from Coinbase and Google. This trick made him believe his assets were in danger. The man lost $53,150. Another woman lost $38,750 using the same trick. Authorities said Spektor recruited other people online as social engineers. They helped run the scam and bragged about the heists, making the scheme bigger and affecting more victims.
Spektor now faces 31 charges, including first-degree larceny, first-degree money laundering, and participating in a scheme to defraud. He lives with his father in Brooklyn, and investigators traced several stolen crypto wallets to the homeās IP address. A judge set bail at $500,000 but did not allow Spektorās father to post it, citing unclear sources of the money. Prosecutors said the case shows the dangers of crypto scams nationwide and the need for investors to stay vigilant.
Coinbase assisted law enforcement throughout the investigation. Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer at Coinbase, stated that the company was committed to protecting its customers and working closely with law enforcement to hold scammers accountable and help bring justice for the victims. He added that Coinbase had provided on-chain activity data and helped trace stolen funds to support prosecution.
Crypto scams aren't anon.
Coinbase is committed to working with law enforcement to trace funds, support victims, and pursue accountability.
We're proud to have helped the Brooklyn DA bring justice in a long-running impersonation scam. And thanks @zachxbt for your contributions. pic.twitter.com/zXRLRSFEEp
ā Coinbase
(@coinbase) December 19, 2025
Brooklyn District Attorney Gonzalez said that the indictment showed Spektorās scam had targeted innocent investors across the country. He emphasized that Brooklyn would not serve as a hub for online fraud and explained that authorities would investigate offenders using the latest technology, freeze their assets whenever possible, and assist the victims.
eToro Platform
Best Crypto Exchange
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Donāt invest unless youāre prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment, and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.
0
0
Manage all your crypto, NFT and DeFi from one placeSecurely connect the portfolio youāre using to start.
0
0
0
0
