A 23-year-old Brooklyn resident has been charged with orchestrating a widespread cryptocurrency fraud that allegedly defrauded almost 100 Coinbase users across the United States of nearly $16 million.
Ronald Spektor, of Sheepshead Bay, is accused of using sophisticated phishing and social engineering tactics to convince victims their accounts were under threat and needed to be moved to “safe wallets” controlled by him.
According to prosecutors, Spektor posed as a Coinbase representative and contacted users through phone calls, emails, and spoofed two-factor authentication notifications.
Victims, believing the communications were legitimate, transferred digital assets to wallets under Spektor’s control.
In one case, a Pennsylvania man reported receiving a call in September 2024 from someone claiming to be Fred Wilson from Coinbase, after receiving spoofed authentication messages from both Coinbase and Google.
He lost $53,150 in cryptocurrency.
Another woman from Maryland lost $38,750 using the same tactic.
Across the country, reported losses included over $1 million from a California resident and approximately $900,000 from a Virginia resident.
Investigators revealed that the stolen cryptocurrency was moved through exchanges, gambling platforms, and digital asset purchases.
To date, authorities have recovered around $105,000 in cash and roughly $400,000 in crypto, with additional assets still under review.
Spektor allegedly boasted about his thefts in online forums and messaging platforms.
Prosecutors highlighted his Telegram channel, “Blockchain Enemies,” where he used the handle @lolimfeelingevil.
Source: Zachxbt’s X
The channel reportedly documented gambling losses of about $6 million and shared social engineering techniques, while also recruiting others to assist with scams.
One victim approached pseudonymous blockchain investigator ZachXBT, claiming they lost more than $6 million to Spektor.
Spektor was arraigned on Friday before Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 31-count indictment, including first-degree grand larceny, first-degree money laundering, and participating in a scheme to defraud.
His bail was set at $500,000, and the judge refused to allow his father to post bond, citing uncertainty over the source of the funds.
Spektor currently remains in custody.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasised that the office will continue to use digital forensics and asset-tracing tools to identify offenders and recover stolen funds.
Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, confirmed that the company assisted investigators by providing records, sharing on-chain activity, and supporting the tracing of stolen funds.
Grewal said,
“We’re committed to protecting our customers and working hand-in-hand with law enforcement to hold scammers accountable and help bring justice for those they harm.”
The indictment highlights how digital currencies are increasingly targeted through social engineering rather than technical hacks.
Spektor reportedly coordinated his activities from home, using his IP address linked to multiple wallets and actively recruiting others to assist in scams.
District Attorney Gonzalez stressed the seriousness of crypto fraud, stating,
“We will investigate offenders using the latest technology, freeze their assets whenever possible, and assist the victims.”
This case represents one of the larger phishing schemes against U.S. cryptocurrency users in recent years, illustrating the persistent risks faced by investors in the rapidly evolving digital asset space.
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