$BTC Social engineering has become one of the deadliest tools in a scammer’s arsenal — and in August 2024, it enabled one of the largest individual Bitcoin thefts in history.
According to court documents, a single Gemini creditor lost 4,100 $BTC — worth $243 million at the time — after falling victim to a highly sophisticated social engineering attack.
🎮 From Gamers to Hackers
The culprits? Three self-taught hackers — Veer “Wiz” Chetal (19), Malone Lam, and Jeandiel Serrano — who transitioned from online gaming to orchestrating million-dollar crypto heists.
The bizarre twist? While out on bail, Chetal was accused of running fresh scams, trading supercars for fraud before finally pleading guilty.
🕵️ The Scam Playbook
Crypto sleuth ZachXBT, who helped unmask the trio, broke down the heist:
1️⃣ Fake Google Support Call — Using a spoofed number, the scammers convinced the victim their personal accounts were at risk.
2️⃣ Fake Gemini Support Call — Claiming the Gemini account was hacked, they urged a 2FA reset.
3️⃣ Remote Access Trap — The victim was persuaded to install AnyDesk, unknowingly sharing their screen — and their Bitcoin private key.
Within hours, the BTC was siphoned into a compromised wallet — gone forever.
🚨 Lesson for Crypto Holders
This case is a chilling reminder: No legitimate support will ever ask for your private key, 2FA reset, or remote access. In crypto, trust your instincts — and verify everything. #Heist #bitcoin #btc #cryptonews