Crypto scams are becoming increasingly common and sophisticated. Billions of dollars are stolen each year, and even tech-savvy users are vulnerable. This case highlights a particularly brazen example.
The $4 Million Heist
Investigator ZachXBT exposed a scam orchestrated by Christian “DayTwo” Nieves, who allegedly stole over $4 million from Coinbase users. He posed as a Coinbase customer support representative, tricking victims into compromising their wallets.
The Scheme
DayTwo and his associates ran a call center. They convinced victims to set up Coinbase wallets, then secretly gained access to the private keys, allowing them to drain the accounts.
Evidence and Victims
ZachXBT tracked a $240,000 theft from an elderly victim, directly linking it to DayTwo’s wallet. A portion of the stolen funds was converted to Monero (XMR) and deposited into the online casino Roobet.
Gambling Away the Loot
DayTwo frequently gambled with friends on Discord, often streaming his sessions. During one stream, he accidentally revealed his Roobet username (“pawsonhips”) and a deposit address linked to multiple thefts. ZachXBT traced this address to over 30 suspected thefts.
As DayTwo’s gambling losses mounted, his Roobet deposits decreased. He and his friends even openly discussed their criminal activities on Discord calls.
A Bold Scammer
ZachXBT noted the unusual boldness of DayTwo, who flaunted his ill-gotten gains on social media without much effort to conceal his identity. Because DayTwo is an adult, law enforcement should have an easier time pursuing this case. However, victims are unlikely to recover much of their money, as most of the stolen funds were lost gambling.