In a report, the notorious crypto scammer, responsible for hijacking 1,155 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) valued at $70.5 million, has initiated the return of the pilfered funds, as per on-chain data.
Blockchain security watchdog, Peckshield, disclosed that the scammer had reimbursed 50% of the looted sum — roughly 11,446.87 ETH totaling $34.7 million — back to the victim’s address at the time of reporting.
This development comes in the wake of an intriguing dialogue between the scammer and the victim, unraveling over several on-chain messages within the past 24 hours.
On May 3, an unidentified crypto trader fell victim to an address-poisoning phishing scam, resulting in the loss of 1,155 WBTC. Such deceitful tactics entice unsuspecting individuals into transferring digital assets to fraudulent addresses controlled by malicious entities.
Following the heist, the perpetrator promptly converted the ill-gotten gains into 22,956 ETH and dispersed them across numerous wallets to obscure the digital trail.
However, the victim proposed a bold deal, offering the scammer a 10% bounty in return for the restitution of 90% of the embezzled funds, while warning against the futility of attempting to launder the money.
“We both know there’s no way to clean these funds. You will be traced. We also both understand the ‘sleep well’ phrase wasn’t about your moral and ethical qualities. Nevertheless, we officially acknowledge your right to the 10%. Send 90% back,” the victim asserted.
On May 9, the scammer complied by sending 51 ETH — valued at over $150,000 — to the victim, alongside a message soliciting a Telegram username for further communication.
Speculations abound regarding the identity and modus operandi of the hacker. Blockchain security firm, Slow Mist, hinted at potential involvement in multiple phishing attacks targeting not only the Ethereum blockchain but also the Tron network.
As the saga unfolds, the crypto community remains vigilant, underscoring the importance of robust security measures in safeguarding digital assets against nefarious actors.
