Major Cryptocurrency Scam Targets U.S. Political Donor
A Nigerian-based cybercriminal has reportedly stolen $250,000 in cryptocurrency from a U.S. political donor by impersonating Steve Witkoff, a well-known associate of former President Donald Trump. The scammer used a spoofed email address to deceive the victim into believing they were contributing to a legitimate political cause.
Spoofed Identity Behind Crypto Theft
According to official reports, the scammer created an email address that closely matched a real one linked to the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. Using this fake identity, the attacker successfully convinced the donor to send $250,000 worth of USDT on the Ethereum blockchain (USDT.ETH) to a wallet under the scammer’s control.
The impersonation involved intricate email deception techniques and well-coordinated messaging, making the scam appear genuine.
FBI Traces and Recovers Portion of Stolen Crypto
Despite efforts by the scammer to launder the stolen digital assets, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was able to trace and recover a portion of the funds. Authorities have frozen 40,300 USDT.ETH, some of which were discovered in a Binance account associated with Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a known cyber fraudster operating from Lagos, Nigeria.
Over $210,000 in cryptocurrency remains unrecovered, highlighting the difficulties of asset tracing in blockchain-based crimes.
U.S. Attorney Warns Donors About Crypto Scams
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has initiated proceedings to return the recovered funds to the affected donor. Officials emphasized the complexity of tracking funds on the blockchain and issued a warning to the public.
“Donors should double and triple check crypto addresses before sending any funds,” a spokesperson said. “While recovering assets is difficult, law enforcement remains committed to holding cybercriminals accountable.”
Key Lessons and Cybersecurity Takeaways
This case underscores the importance of verifying digital communications—especially when large amounts of cryptocurrency are involved. Cybercriminals increasingly target individuals through sophisticated impersonation scams using stolen or fabricated identities.
It is critical to independently verify wallet addresses and email identities before making donations or financial transactions online.
Final Thoughts
This crypto fraud case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions and digital impersonation. Donors, investors, and individuals must practice strict due diligence and seek secure communication channels before transferring any digital assets.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves risk and may result in financial loss.