The Return of Stolen Funds
A crypto whale who fell victim to a phishing scam last year, losing $24 million worth of liquid staked Ethereum, is now receiving the stolen money back. Blockchain security firm Scam Sniffer has reported that the attacker has returned over $10 million of the stolen funds as of July 15.
The Refund Process
On-chain data reveals that the attacker initiated the refund process on July 6 by sending a message admitting guilt and expressing a desire to return the money. Following the message, the attacker transferred approximately $9.3 million worth of DAI stablecoins to the victim in two separate transactions, according to Etherscan data. Subsequently, on July 15, an additional $1 million was refunded, bringing the total refund amount to $10.3 million.
The victim has publicly acknowledged the return of the funds and expressed gratitude for the gesture, while also requesting the remaining amount to be sent back to the same address. This marks a significant development in the case, providing hope for the full recovery of the stolen funds.
Phishing Attacks on Crypto Users
An attacker recently promised to refund a victim’s balance, but requested to speak privately. The victim then created a Telegram Group to discuss the matter, although it is unclear if an agreement was reached regarding the balance.
This incident is not the first time hackers have stolen and returned stolen funds after negotiating with victims through blockchain messages. The reason for this specific refund remains unclear, as the initial attack took place almost a year ago.
Phishing attacks continue to be a major concern for crypto users, with malicious actors often impersonating legitimate accounts on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) in order to deceive victims. According to Scam Sniffer, these attacks have resulted in losses of approximately $341 million in the first half of this year, surpassing the total amount stolen in 2023.
