Arizona man impersonated Uber driver to steal $300K in crypto
A man from Scottsdale, Arizona, has been arrested for allegedly posing as an Uber driver and stealing $300,000 in cryptocurrency from two unsuspecting passengers.
According to reports from Fox10 Phoenix, the suspect, identified as Nuruhussein Hussein, allegedly lured victims waiting outside the W Hotel in Scottsdale on two separate occasions, in March and October.
Police claim Hussein posed as the Uber driver the victims had ordered, addressing them by name and gaining their trust.
Once inside the car, Hussein reportedly asked to borrow one of the passengers’ phones, claiming his own device was broken.
In the second incident, he offered to troubleshoot the Uber app when the passengers questioned the delay in the driver's arrival.
It is alleged that Hussein then used the passengers’ phones to transfer cryptocurrency from their Coinbase accounts to another wallet, including sending some funds to cold storage.
The Scottsdale Police Department and US Secret Service agents arrested Hussein on December 11 for charges of theft, fraud schemes, and money laundering.
Authorities have stated that the investigation is still ongoing.
Court documents did not clarify how Hussein knew the names of the passengers who were waiting for the Uber ride.
However, prosecutors noted that Hussein threatened one of the victims when they became suspicious and demanded their phone back.
Hussein was given a $200,000 secured cash bond and ordered to undergo electronic monitoring if released.
Prosecutors also successfully argued that Hussein should be banned from using the internet or traveling abroad due to concerns about evidence destruction or potential flight to Ethiopia, where he is known to travel.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on December 18.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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