US Citizen Jailed for Impersonating Apple, Stealing Crypto and NFTs

A Los Angeles resident has been sentenced to eight years in jail for several crimes including stealing crypto and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

“A downtown Los Angeles man was sentenced today to 96 months in federal prison for committing a series of frauds,” a recent statement declared.

Man Forced to Pay Huge Payment for His Crimes

The United States Attorney’s Office mandated the payment of a seven-figure sum in restitution by the man in his mid-20s for his criminal activities.

“Amir Hossein Golshan, 25, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II, who also ordered him to pay $1,218,526 in restitution.”

Read more: 15 Most Common Crypto Scams To Look Out For

Golshan committed multiple crimes, one of which involved impersonating an Apple support worker to steal crypto and NFTs. He achieved this by gaining unauthorized access to several victims’ Apple iCloud accounts.

Golshan pilfered digital assets ranging in value from $2,000 to $389,000 each.

“Golshan told the victim that Apple Support wanted to give the victim an advanced security protocol to protect the victim’s iCloud account. Meanwhile, he then caused a two-step authentication code to be sent to the victim’s phone,” the statement explained.

By tricking the victim, Golshan got them to share a six-digit security code. With that code, he got into the victim’s iCloud account.

From there, he changed the email address to his own. Then he swiped valuable digital assets, like an NFT worth around $319,000, and about $70,000 in crypto.

Rise In Crypto Scams In Recent Times

There has been a rise in crypto scams in recent times.

Additionally, on Nov. 16, BeInCrypto reported that authorities charged two individuals from Arizona with serious offenses related to their engagement in a crypto investment scheme.

However, the duo faced accusations of defrauding hundreds of victims, amassing hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.

Furthermore, the scam utilized three distinct entities to promote diverse investment opportunities, each guaranteeing significant and instant returns.

Read more: What Is a Rug Pull? A Guide to the Web3 Scam

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