₹19 Crore USDT Fraud: 3 Arrested for Hacking Bank Account via Fake Website

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Three Arrested in Connection with ₹19 Crore USDT Scam

A recent investigation by cybercrime authorities has led to the arrest of three individuals accused of perpetrating a large-scale cryptocurrency fraud. The scam, which resulted in a loss of ₹19 crore, involved the use of a fake website to gain unauthorized access to a victim’s bank and cryptocurrency accounts.

The Scam

According to investigators, the suspects contacted the victim earlier this year, posing as potential buyers interested in purchasing USDT. To complete the transaction, they directed the victim to undergo a Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process on a website called ‘trontag.org’. Unbeknownst to the victim, the website was designed as a phishing tool to capture sensitive information, including banking details, login credentials, and authentication data.

The Heist

Once the victim entered the required information, the suspects immediately transferred 21,04,089 USDT from the victim’s account to their own digital wallets. The suspects then attempted to obscure the money trail through wallet layering and fund routing techniques, moving the stolen assets across multiple addresses.

The Investigation

However, transaction mapping and server log analysis enabled authorities to trace the operation and make the arrests. One of the arrested individuals is believed to have developed and managed the fake website, which was designed to closely resemble a legitimate cryptocurrency KYC platform.

Public Advisory

Cybercrime officials have issued a public advisory warning citizens not to share banking or cryptocurrency KYC details on unknown links or unverified platforms. Users are urged to deal only through officially recognized exchanges and secure channels.

Charges and Proceedings

The suspects have been booked under relevant provisions of the IT Act and cheating laws. Authorities noted that the case highlights the growing use of phishing websites and social engineering in cryptocurrency-related frauds, where victims are tricked into compromising their own credentials.

In this instance, the suspects exploited the victim’s trust by posing as legitimate buyers and using a fake website that appeared to be a legitimate KYC platform. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and verification of URLs, as well as the need to use trusted platforms when conducting cryptocurrency transactions.

Ongoing Investigation

The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to determine whether additional gang members or a wider mule network were involved in laundering the proceeds.