According to reports, an Uber driver in Scottsdale, Arizona, arrested a man for allegedly stealing $300,000 worth of cryptocurrencies from two passengers on separate occasions. The suspect, Nuruhussein Hussein, reportedly sought victims outside a hotel and addressed them by name in order to gain their trust.
According to officials, Hussein picked up his victims outside the W Hotel in Scottsdale twice: once in March and again in October. Hussein obtained access to their mobile phones by pretending to be resolving app issues or using their phone as a replacement for his malfunctioning device. Once in possession, he allegedly moved cryptocurrency from their accounts to cold storage.
When a victim became suspicious and demanded their phone back, Hussein allegedly threatened them, telling them to “chill” or face the repercussions.
On December 11, Scottsdale police and Secret Service operatives apprehended Hussein. He is now facing allegations of theft, fraud, and money laundering. In the event that he receives bail, prosecutors have successfully secured a $200,000 cash bond and electronic monitoring.
Authorities expressed worry that Hussein, who apparently goes regularly to Ethiopia, may attempt to destroy evidence or exit the country. We have prohibited him from using the internet or traveling internationally as a precaution. The court has scheduled Hussein’s appearance for December 18.
This instance shows growing concerns about offline cryptocurrency theft, as scammers increasingly use direct and deceitful ways to target unsuspecting victims. Investigations into the case are ongoing.
