Tech
Tether freezes $1.4 million worth of USDT linked to US tech scam
Tether, issuer of USDT stablecoin, assisted the US Department of Justice and the FBI in seizing approximately $1.4 million worth of USDT.
According to Tether send on March 12 the goods will be returned to the victims of fraud. American authorities thanked the company for its help.
“The seizure of $1.4 million worth of Tether (USDT) marks a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to uphold integrity in this rapidly evolving industry.”
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether
Second Bind, the scam primarily targeted seniors across the United States. Scammers used pop-ups to trick victims into believing their computers had been hacked, encouraging them to contact tech support. Victims were then tricked into believing their bank accounts were at risk, leading to the funds being converted into cryptocurrency to protect them from hackers. These funds were transferred to virtual currency wallets controlled by the attackers.
Tether is actively working with US authorities to help freeze its assets. In December, it frozen assets in 41 portfolios belonging to individuals in the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned list.
Bind collaborate with 19 jurisdictions worldwide and assists in ongoing investigations by actively offering information to law enforcement. The firm froze 800 million USDT in secondary market addresses, mostly associated with hacking and theft. The company said it assisted the US Department of Justice with 68 requests, blocking 188 wallets containing 70 million USDT.