Source: Cointelegraph
Original: “New Zealand Man Arrested in $265 Million Crypto Scam, FBI Involved in Investigation”
A man in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, has been arrested for allegedly participating in a global cryptocurrency fraud led by the FBI, which reportedly stole NZD 450 million (approximately USD 265 million).
According to New Zealand police, the man is one of 13 individuals charged after authorities executed search warrants in Auckland, Wellington, and California over the past three days.
The charges stem from an allegation that members of an organized crime group manipulated seven victims between March and August 2024 to obtain large amounts of cryptocurrency, which were then laundered through multiple platforms.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, the man has been charged under federal law with extortion, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder money.
Prosecutors allege that the stolen funds were used to purchase luxury vehicles worth USD 9 million and were lavishly spent on high-end goods, including designer handbags, watches, and clothing, as well as nightclub entry, private security, and rental services in Los Angeles, Miami, and the Hamptons.
The defendant appeared in Auckland District Court and was granted bail, with his name temporarily kept confidential. He is scheduled to appear again on July 3.
“We are working closely with our law enforcement colleagues in the U.S. to support their investigation,” police stated. They added, “Today’s search warrants and arrests reflect the importance of international cooperation, as criminals operate across borders.”
The investigation is ongoing.
According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, digital asset theft cases surged in April 2025, with 18 separate hacking incidents resulting in nearly USD 360 million stolen.
This figure represents a staggering 990% increase compared to the USD 33 million loss reported in March. This sharp rise is primarily attributed to an unauthorized Bitcoin (BTC) transfer, which accounted for the majority of the losses that month.
On April 28, blockchain analyst ZachXBT discovered a suspicious BTC transaction worth USD 330 million. It was later confirmed that the incident was a social engineering attack targeting elderly residents in the U.S., making it one of the largest individual crypto thefts to date.
Related: Surge in Cryptocurrency Violent Robberies: Six Attacks Targeting Investors
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