The Department of Justice is hitting back against a teenage hacker who stole millions in Bitcoin from crypto executives through an elaborate SIM-swapping scheme. A federal judge has approved an order for the hacker, Ahmad Wagaafe Hared, to surrender $5.2 million in Bitcoin he stole back in 2016.
The 19-year-old worked with a conspirator to trick cell phone carriers into handing over control of the execs’ devices. By hijacking their SIM cards, the duo bypassed two-factor authentication to drain the victims’ crypto wallets.
Hared was already an infamous figure on the dark web, using the username “winblo” on an underground marketplace for stolen social media accounts.
The Bitcoin theft funded a lavish lifestyle for the teenage hacker. Part of the stolen crypto went towards a $150,000 BMW i8 sports car. Hared and his partner further extorted victims by calling them after taking control of their accounts.
The years-long SIM-swapping scheme came to an end after an FBI investigation identified the two conspirators in 2019, leading to their arrests. But the DOJ is now ensuring Hared forfeits both the stolen bitcoin and the car purchased with the illicit funds.
The case highlights the ongoing threat of SIM-swapping attacks targeting those with significant crypto holdings. It also demonstrates law enforcement’s expanding efforts to crack down on cybercrime within the cryptocurrency space.
