New Jersey resident scammed out of $289K in Bitcoin for counterfeit gold
43, both residents of Romania, have been charged with two counts of money laundering and one count of theft by deception, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday. Arrest warrants for the two men were issued on Oct. 25, and they are currently still at large.
The scam began when the pair traveled to New Jersey in September 2023 and met with a resident of Bergen County to discuss the sale of gold coils. The victim ended up sending them about 11 Bitcoins, which, at the time, amounted to $289,000 based on Bitcoin’s price of around $26,000. Unfortunately, the gold coils that were received turned out to be fake.
After investigating the transaction, authorities discovered that the digital currency was sent to a crypto wallet owned by both Tiber and Zarei. The duo then transferred the funds to several cryptocurrency exchanges, using accounts registered under fake names.
Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella emphasized the sophistication of cryptocurrency scams, highlighting the difficulty in detecting them. However, he reassured the public that investigators are committed to uncovering schemes that seek to take advantage of the popularity surrounding cryptocurrency.
If you have any information about the whereabouts of Tiber and Zarei, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office urges you to call its tip line at 201-226-5532.
This unfortunate incident serves as a reminder to always be cautious when dealing with cryptocurrency transactions and to verify the legitimacy of sellers before making any payments. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim to scams in the ever-evolving world of digital currency.
