A 50-year-old software firm owner in Pune has been duped of Rs 9.84 lakh by cybercriminals who siphoned cryptocurrency from three of his crypto wallets between April 21 and May 7. The victim lodged a complaint with the Baner police on Thursday.
Incident Details
According to an officer from the Baner police, the complainant, a resident of Balewadi, owns a software company and also traded in cryptocurrencies via an online platform. He maintained multiple crypto wallets for his transactions. On May 7, while reviewing his wallets, the complainant discovered that cryptocurrencies worth Rs 9.84 lakh had been transferred out of three of his wallets without his authorization.
Expert Consultation
The complainant immediately contacted an expert in cyber transactions, who informed him that the unauthorized transfers had occurred between April 21 and May 7. The expert advised him to file a formal complaint with the police.
Police Investigation
Preliminary investigations by the Baner police revealed that the suspect or suspects used the complainant’s blockchain addresses and private keys to carry out the theft. The officer stated, “We are investigating how the suspect/s gained access to the victim’s crypto wallets.” The police are currently probing the method used to obtain the private keys and blockchain addresses, which are essential for accessing and transferring cryptocurrency.
Broader Context
This incident highlights the growing threat of cybercrime in the cryptocurrency space, where private keys and blockchain addresses are prime targets for hackers. The police have urged cryptocurrency traders to enhance their security measures, including using hardware wallets, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring their accounts for suspicious activity.
