DOJ accuses OpenSea spoofer of $450,000 NFT theft

[ad_1]

The Ministry of Justice has accused a Moroccan of creating a parody of the popular OpenSea marketplace and selling dozens of illegally obtained NFTs.

Soufiane Oulahyane, 25, allegedly paid for ads that put his OpenSea-like website first on search engine results for OpenSea and then tricked people into handing over the keys to their private crypto wallets, according to a DOJ statement. .

Identity theft is one of the oldest tricks in the criminal playbook. Oulahyane has adapted this ancient tool for use in a new arena and developing crypto space, Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said in the statement.

Through this alleged exploit, Oulahyane allegedly stole $450,000 in non-fungible tokens and cryptocurrency from a Manhattan-based victim in 2021.

In total, Oulahyane sold 39 of the illegally obtained NFTs, including a Bored Ape Yacht Club collection token, BAYC #7358, which the victim purchased for 49 Ether, a Meebit purchased for 9.88 Ether, a Bored Ape Kennel Club NFT bought for 6 Ether, and a CryptoDad series NFT bought for 1.789 Ether.

Oulahyane is currently detained in Morocco. He was charged with wire fraud, using an unauthorized access device, aggravated identity theft, and affecting transactions with an access device to receive something of equal or greater than $1,000. Oulahyane could face decades in prison if convicted.

Learn about all things crypto with short, easy-to-read lesson cards. Click here for the Fortunes Crypto crash course.

[ad_2]