Chirag Tomar used a fake Coinbase website to steal real Coinbase customer passwords and successfully stole a total of $9.5 million worth of crypto assets.
Chirag Tomar is a 30-year-old Indian citizen. Between June 2021 and October 2022, Tomar conducted internet searches for “fake Coinbase page,” “Coinbase scam,” “US scam,” and “how to withdraw money from Coinbase without OTP.”
After collecting massive data from internet sources, Chirag created a fake Coinbase crypto exchange page.
Using the created fake website, he managed to get the email ID and password of more than 542 Coinbase users.
Interestingly, Chirag failed to hide from his Internet presence as he used an email account in his real name to communicate with known and unknown co-conspirators in the fraud.
This scammer used the money for a luxurious life, for example by traveling to London, Dubai and Thailand, and bought high-end luxury vehicles such as Lamborghinis and Porches.
In 2023, Chirag applied for his US travel visa using the same email account he used to communicate with other fraudsters.
That was Chirag charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. On these charges, he faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Tomar’s case was first highlighted by CourtWatch’s Seamus Hughes. Afterwards, he was under full surveillance and was successfully arrested by US authorities in late 2023, but Tomar has not yet been convicted.
Raj Kundra & “Bitcoin Profit Fraud”
Just a few days later, the Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized a property owned by popular Indian actress Shilpa Shetty.
According to ED investigation, Shilpa’s husband Raj Kundra received 285 Bitcoin from a Bitcoin gain ponzi scheme, which masterminded setting up a Bitcoin mining company in Ukraine.
So far, Raj Kundra has not been arrested in this case, but many media reports have confirmed that he will face major fraud and money laundering charges.
Also read: Binance CEO says they are working to resolve the issue with Nigerian authorities