Scammers Target Trump Donors with Fake Inauguration Emails, Steal $250K in Crypto
Scammer Defrauds Trump Supporter of Over $250,000 in Cryptocurrency
Overview of the Fraudulent Scheme
A Trump supporter fell victim to an elaborate online scam, losing more than $250,000 in cryptocurrency. Federal authorities have accused the fraudsters of impersonating members of the president’s 2025 inaugural committee.
Details of the Scam
In December, the scammers sent emails that falsely claimed to be from Steve Witkoff, who was then serving as co-chair of the inaugural committee. They solicited a donation of over $250,000 in USDT.ETH cryptocurrency. According to a federal court complaint, the victim complied and transferred the funds, which were subsequently dispersed to various cryptocurrency wallets, including one linked to a Binance account in Nigeria under the name Ehiremen Aigbokhan.
Warnings from Authorities
Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro issued a cautionary statement urging all donors to verify the authenticity of cryptocurrency transactions. She emphasized the challenges law enforcement faces in recovering lost funds due to the complex nature of blockchain technology.
Response from Cryptocurrency Firms
Following the incident, Binance and Tether, the companies involved in the transaction, responded to FBI requests to freeze certain accounts that contained portions of the stolen cryptocurrency. Federal prosecutors are now pursuing the seizure of approximately $40,000 in crypto from two accounts that have not yet been withdrawn.
Legal Implications of the Fraud
The authorities have classified this incident as a case of wire fraud and money laundering. The scheme exemplifies a “business email compromise scam,” where the fraudster cleverly altered email domain names to mislead the victim, using a lowercase “L” in place of an uppercase “I” to mimic official email addresses.
Connection to Legitimate Ventures
Both Trump and Witkoff are involved in various legitimate cryptocurrency initiatives, including World Liberty Financial, which they established alongside their sons last year.
Conclusion
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency donations and the importance of vigilance in verifying the legitimacy of such transactions. The Independent has reached out to the email address linked to Aigbokhan for further comment.
