Fake Arizona Uber Driver Steals $300K In Crypto

A man posing as an Uber driver in Scottsdale, Arizona, has been arrested for allegedly stealing a total of $300,000 worth of cryptocurrency by scamming two unsuspecting passengers. The incidents reportedly occurred in March and October of this year.

How The Scam Unfolded

According to a December 12th report by Fox10 Phoenix, the Scottsdale Police Department identified the suspect as Nuruhussein Hussein. Authorities claim Hussein targeted victims outside the upscale W Hotel in Scottsdale, pretending to be the Uber driver they had ordered. To make his deception convincing, Hussein allegedly greeted the victims by their names, though investigators have not disclosed how he obtained this information.

Once inside the car, Hussein allegedly asked the passenger if he could use their phone, claiming his own was broken. In one case, he offered to troubleshoot the Uber app after the passenger questioned why it appeared their ride had not officially started.

Police say Hussein exploited the phones to transfer funds through their Coinbase accounts. He allegedly conducted crypto transfers between phones and then moved the stolen assets to cold storage wallets, ensuring they were untraceable.

Intimidation And Arrest

When one of the victims grew suspicious and demanded their phone back, Hussein reportedly threatened them, warning them to relax or something bad would happen to them. The Scottsdale Police Department, in collaboration with U.S. Secret Service agents, arrested Hussein on December 11th. He faces charges of theft, fraud, and money laundering.

Prosecutors successfully argued for a $200,000 secured cash bond, along with electronic monitoring if Hussein posts bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for December 18th, and investigations into the case are ongoing.

Offline Crypto Thefts On The Rise

The case highlights a concerning trend of offline crypto-related thefts. According to data provided by GitHub, there have been at least 19 such incidents across various countries in 2024 alone, compared to 17 in 2023 and 32 in 2021.

These crimes often involve direct confrontations or innovative schemes targeting crypto holders. A notable historical case occurred in 2014, when an unknown individual reportedly attempted to extort 1,000 BTC via Hal Finney, a pioneer in the crypto space. More recently, on December 3rd, a group of thieves in Melbourne, Australia, made headlines by ramming a vehicle through a shopping center to steal a Bitcoin ATM. The machine was later discovered in a park, pried open and set on fire.