They were four to have siphoned nearly $1 million in cryptocurrency in 2020 on Twitter. The first is called Graham Ivan Clark, the mastermind of the gang, 17, arrested in 2021 and currently serving a sentence of three years imprisonment for juvenile delinquency. The other is Joseph O’Connor, 22, alias PlugWalkJoe, detained in Spain since 2021 and recently extradited to the United States. The other two crypto scammers are Nima Fazeli and Mason John Sheppard.
The hacker O’Connor soon before the bar of a New York court
Put an end to crypto scams, it is the dream of many holders of bitcoins and other cryptocurrency holdings. But so far, no one can boast of being immune to such a malicious act. Might as well guard against it than to wait for the eradication of similar scams.
Except that the authorities are not giving up on crypto scammers. We are told, albeit bit by bit, operations to arrest cryptocurrency hackers.
Such is the case of Joseph O’Connor, reported by CoinDesk. His extradition on April 26 was announced by US prosecutors.
Explanation by Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the District of New York:
” Joseph O’Connor, aka ‘PlugwalkJoe’, used his sophisticated technological faculties for malicious purposes – by carrying out a complex SIM swap attack to steal cryptocurrencies in large quantities, hacking into Twitter, carrying out computer intrusions to take control of social media accounts, and even cyberstalking two victims, including a minor victim.
Details of the charges against him
There official communication from the DOJ highlighted two counts against the British PlugWalkJoe :
- act of computer hacking using the “SIM swap” technique to steal $794,000 in crypto from a US company and laundering of the assets thus obtained;
- hack on Twitter in July 2020 and takeovers of TikTok and Snapchat accounts, as well as cyberbullying.
Regarding bitcoin scams on Twitter, they are said to have been able to hack a hundred Twitter accounts of personalities like Barack Obama, Joe Bide, Elon Musk… At the time, they were able to amass 11.3 BTC.
Their modus operandi bears some resemblance to that of the crypto scamers hovering around Canadian Scott Gurney, one might say. Indeed, they relied on audited accounts to ” convince their victims to send cryptocurrency to crypto accounts under [leur contrôle] “. Words from prosecutor Derrel Dirks at the Graham Ivan Clark hearing in March 2021.
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