Scam alert as thieves target remote job seekers, stealing millions in crypto scam

Scammers stole millions of dollars in cryptocurrency from people searching for remote job opportunities, according to New York’s Attorney General.

Letitia James shared on Thursday, January 9, that she’s taken legal action to recover over $2 million allegedly stolen from New Yorkers and others across the country.

She explained that the scammers operated as part of a network, using unsolicited text messages to lure in unsuspecting job seekers.

James’ office filed a lawsuit that affected nine victims caught up in the cryptocurrency scam. Seven of them are from Queens and Nassau County, while the other two are from Virginia and Florida. Each person lost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $300,000 in the scheme.

Writing on X, she said: “We’ve frozen $2.2 million in cryptocurrency that we’re seeking to give back to New Yorkers who were scammed.”

My office sued scammers who targeted people looking for remote jobs, tricked them into depositing money into cryptocurrency accounts, and then stole their money. 
 
We've frozen $2.2 million in cryptocurrency that we're seeking to give back to New Yorkers who were scammed.

— NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) January 9, 2025

James added that the the individuals used text messages to “cruelly deceive people who were looking to earn money to support their families.”

According to the lawsuit, the accused used private messages on WhatsApp and other messaging groups to lure victims.

The suspects reportedly reeled people in with promises of “remote job” gigs, convincing them to load up crypto wallets with stablecoins, USD Coin or USD Tether, to supposedly pay for fake product reviews.

Victims were then told they’d earn commissions for their work, but instead, their wallets were completely drained. The lawsuit stated: “The companies were impersonations of real companies and the websites were merely a façade for a massive fraud.”

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz stated: “Work scams that prey on those seeking legitimate employment not only rob victims of their hard-earned money but also shatter their trust in the job market.”

“Crimes of deception continue to evolve, driven by large windfalls stolen from unsuspecting victims,” added Patrick J. Freaney, US Secret Service special agent.

In October, ReadWrite reported on another such job-related crypto scam. Threat actors linked to North Korea, posing as Web3 recruiters, targeted job seekers to install crypto-stealing malware on their devices. The scammers used fake video call apps to infect the devices of job seekers in the tech industry.

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