As cryptocurrencies gain popularity, scammers are developing new and sophisticated methods in this field. Crypto wallet emptiers have become an increasing threat lately. Four major crypto wallet emptiers, namely Pink Drainer, Inferno Drainer, Pussy Drainer, and Venom Drainer, have targeted thousands of individuals since the beginning of 2023, resulting in a total of $66.4 million worth of stolen cryptocurrencies. #wallet

Actions of Emptiers:

Crypto wallet emptiers operate through malicious smart contracts called "sweeps" or phishing scams. These malicious software transfer assets from victims' wallets without their knowledge. An associated transaction linked to a smart contract leads to the theft of a portion or all of the victim's assets without their consent. #hackers

Activities of Emptiers:

According to Scam Sniffer, a Web3 anti-scam platform, Venom Drainer has been the top emptier, having stolen the highest amount to date. Venom Drainer, which has stolen $27.5 million since February, maintains its leading position within this group. Inferno Drainer comes second, having stolen $21.2 million along with nearly 45,800 victims since January. Pussy Drainer and Pink Drainer have collectively stolen $17.5 million from over 6,000 victims. Monkey Drainer, during its reign, estimatedly stole $13 million worth of digital assets.

Business Model of Emptiers:

According to Scam Sniffer, most crypto wallet emptiers collaborate with groups conducting phishing scams to receive a percentage of the stolen amount. However, some emptiers also demand an additional access fee. For instance, according to CertiK, emptiers like Inferno charge a "20 percent commission," while Venom initially requests a "starting fee of $1,000."

New Emptiers:

As per the information provided by Scam Sniffer, crypto wallet emptiers are constantly changing. When one emptier ceases its operations, a new emptier takes its place. This indicates that being an emptier is a lucrative business and none of them have been caught so far.

In Summary:

Crypto wallet emptiers pose a significant threat that users need to be cautious about. Users should avoid clicking on links or emails from unknown sources and take additional measures such as two-factor authentication to ensure security. Furthermore, increasing security awareness and acting consciously are crucial in defending against crypto wallet emptiers.

In a significant development, a high-profile couple allegedly responsible for the notorious $4.5 billion Bitcoin hack has reportedly reached a plea deal with US prosecutors, as revealed by Reuters. The infamous Bitfinex attack, which occurred in August 2016, resulted in the transfer of 119,756 Bitcoins (worth approximately $72 million at the time) from users' accounts to a single wallet, causing a sharp 30% drop in BTC's price from $600 to $400. #BTC #bitcoin $BTC

Accused Couple and Arrest:

The couple at the center of the case, identified as Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, residents of Manhattan, were initially arrested in February 2022. They are now scheduled to appear in a defense hearing before US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington on August 3.

Charges and Scheme Details:

According to court records, Lichtenstein and Morgan were charged with conspiring to launder over 100,000 BTC, which were stolen following the hacker's attack on Bitfinex, involving more than 2,000 unauthorized transactions. The case file, recently disclosed, unveiled that the couple's alleged purpose was to illegally enrich themselves by laundering the proceeds of the attack and defrauding the victim, the virtual currency exchange Bitfinex, while carefully evading detection of their laundering activities. #Bitfinex #hackers

In Summary:

The plea deal struck between the accused couple and US prosecutors marks a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding the $4.5 billion Bitcoin hack case. As the defense hearing approaches, the outcome of this high-profile trial will be closely watched by the cryptocurrency community and financial authorities alike.

#Write2Earn Craig Wright admits forging documents in #SatoshiNakamoto 's claim amid a legal battle with COPA, casting doubt on his credibility.STORY HIGHLIGHTSCraig Wright, self-proclaimed Satoshi Nakamoto, admits to forging documents in high-profile legal battle.COPA challenges Wright's Nakamoto identity, supported by influential figures like Jack Dorsey.Wright's credibility tarnished as an information security specialist by admitting to document manipulation.Craig Wright, the Australian computer scientist who has long claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto — inventor of Bitcoin under a pseudonym –has admitted forging documents supporting his claim. The confession resulted from a high-profile legal fight between Wright and the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA), leaving shadows over his years-old self-claim for being the founder of digital currency.Reflections on Day 4 of COPA v Wright, the identity issue.The blame game shifted from Citrix MetaFrame to Ira Kleiman and Atlassian today.We learnt that Calvin is supposedly not funding this case, he only provided a loan (that money is gone, Calvin).We saw complete 180s… pic.twitter.com/MAERPYcmcI— Norbert ⚡️ (@bitnorbert) February 8, 2024Satoshi Nakamoto’s Courtroom DramaUnder tough cross-examination, Wright admitted the falsity of several documents he had submitted as proof that he is Satoshi Nakamoto. The revelation followed after COPA’s legal team had pointed out inconsistencies and anachronisms in the papers, including mentions of font styles and technologies that allegedly were not around at the time when they claimed these documents to have been created.Wright explained these inconsistencies by a number of factors, such as errors made while previous attorneys worked on the case; acts of sabotage performed by disgruntled former employees, and illegal modifications introduced into code-base documents that were done with the help of #hackers .The COPA ChallengeCOPA, with the support of the influentials in the crypto world, including Jack Dorsey, who is a Twitter co-founder, has tried to refute Wright’s claims that there was persuasive evidence for his Nakamoto identity.The main goal of this union is to keep the white paper, which serves as a cornerstone for Bitcoin, accessible to anyone and not covered by individual copyright claims that could prevent open development or use.Questions of CredibilityWright’s confession does much damage to his credibility, especially considering that he is an information security specialist. The court was made aware of Wright’s technical capabilities, such as his ability to change document metadata – admittedly taught by him to students at various universities. This disclosure has made the case even more complicated, considering that any document Wright submits in his defense comes into question under these circumstances.Despite this blow, Wright still plays a vital role in different legal cases across many courts within several countries, such as the US, Norway, and Britain. The anonymous funders of these lawsuits have seen Wright gather a large legal team, suggesting the heightened stakes in his attempt to become acknowledged as the creator of Bitcoin.Although Wright’s claims and the resulting judicial turmoil have implications beyond the court, they influence Bitcoin origins through perceptions about cryptocurrencies as a whole. His promotion of a Bitcoin design that matches his conception of digital cash rather than its current use as an investment tool highlights the political fractures within the crypto community. Therefore, this case is about Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity and the potential path Bitcoin will take in the future.#TrendingTopic #PYTH