In only three months, the FBI seized significant amounts of Bitcoin, Ether, Tether, Dai, and Monero.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has unveiled that, from March to May, it confiscated digital assets totaling approximately $1.7 million. This revelation came to light through an official public document released by the agency on August 16th.
The FBI's detailed breakdown of the confiscations includes Bitcoin (BTC) assets amounting to $147,000, a significant $800,000 in Ether (ETH), Tether (USDT) valuing $307,000, Dai (DAI) amassing up to 469,000, and $20,000 in Monero (XMR).
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Interestingly, some of these digital assets had been acquired from wallets affiliated with the well-known cryptocurrency exchange Binance.
In terms of regional distribution, the Eastern District of Virginia saw the most significant confiscation, with a total of 428.5 ETH, marking the highest individual seizure.
This aggressive drive towards digital asset seizure, as stated in the public document, resulted from infractions in federal regulations. The FBI emphasized this point by noting:
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) gives notice that the property listed below was seized for federal forfeiture for violation of federal law.
Beyond cryptocurrencies, the FBI's list also boasts seizures of tangible assets, such as bank-credited US dollars, high-end luxury cars, and premium apparel items like bags, clothing, and footwear.
Additionally, on August 6th, the agency alerted users about a rising trend wherein imposters within the non-fungible token (NFT) domain exploit users. Such malicious actors instill a fabricated "sense of urgency" that lures victims to fraudulent sites and siphon off their assets.
The FBI further elaborated on their modus operandi, noting that these scammers either hack verified social accounts or mimic profiles to facilitate their fraudulent endeavors.
Earlier in the year, the FBI raised concerns regarding deceitful crypto-related job advertisements. On May 23rd, they issued advisories for US residents, cautioning them against false employment postings that could involuntarily embroil them in crypto investment scam activities.
The FBI's active engagement in identifying and impounding ill-gotten digital assets is a testament to the agency's commitment to combating fraudulent activities in the rapidly growing digital currency landscape.
