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The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office said Friday, Dec. 19, that a 23-year-old Brooklyn man has been indicted for his alleged role in a case Coinbase cryptocurrency scam which authorities say cost victims nearly $16 million. Prosecutors estimate about 100 people across the country were affected.
Officials say the charges stem from an investigation by the office’s virtual currency unit. According to investigators, the man allegedly posed as a Coinbase customer service representative, contacting users and telling them their accounts had been compromised. He then allegedly asked victims to move their cryptocurrency to new wallets that he claimed were secure, but prosecutors say those wallets were actually under his control.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement“This indictment accuses the defendant of running a long-running social engineering scam that amounted to digital theft against numerous crypto investors across the country. He allegedly duped numerous unsuspecting people into transferring their savings into wallets he controlled, wasted their hard-earned money gambling online, and then bragged about his successful thefts.”
Brooklyn man accused of stealing nearly $16 million by posing as a cryptocurrency exchange representative and defrauding users
“My office is committed to ensuring that Brooklyn never becomes a hub for online scams.”
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– Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney (@BrooklynDA) December 19, 2025
Gonzalez added: “My office is committed to ensuring that Brooklyn never becomes a hub for online scams, and we will continue to eliminate every case of cryptocurrency fraud, which is a serious problem exploding across the country. We will investigate offenders using the latest technology, freeze their assets wherever possible, and assist victims.”
The District Attorney’s Office identified the defendant as Ronald Spektor, 23, of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. He was arraigned Friday before Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 31-count indictment that includes charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree money laundering, fraudulent scheme and other related offenses. Spektor is currently being held on bail.
Prosecutors said authorities have already seized about $105,000 in cash and about $400,000 in cryptocurrency, and are still working to recover additional assets they believe were stolen.
Coinbase users allegedly targeted by Ronald Spektor
Investigators say the alleged scheme focused on users of Coinbase, a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange where customers can buy, sell and store digital assets. Authorities have noted that Coinbase users are often targets of phishing scams, in which scammers pose as trusted companies to trick people into sharing sensitive information or transferring funds.
Over the past year, investigators have looked into what they described as a coordinated phishing operation that resulted in losses of approximately $15.9 million. More than 70 victims were interviewed, many of whom said they were contacted by someone claiming to be a Coinbase representative who warned them that their accounts were under threat from hackers. Victims were allegedly convinced to move their cryptocurrency into wallets they believed were secure and under their control, but prosecutors say those wallets were actually accessed by Spektor.
Authorities also say the stolen cryptocurrency was laundered through a complex web of transactions involving multiple exchanges, swapping and mixing services, cryptocurrency gaming platforms and online storefronts. Some assets were allegedly converted into other cryptocurrencies, cash, gift cards or digital goods.
According to prosecutors, Spektor’s alleged role in the scheme was established through transaction records, blockchain analysis, digital forensic evidence and documents recovered during multiple search warrants. Investigators say his home internet connection may have been linked to several of the wallets used in the thefts. They also claim he used online forums to recruit others to help with social engineering and brag about the operation.
Prosecutors further allege that Spektor used the handle “@lolimfeelingevil” on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where he ran a channel called “Blockchain enemies” and bragged about his activities. They say he also used other crypto platforms, including Discord, and that the recovered messages reference both losing millions of dollars through cryptocurrency gambling and winning millions through scams.
Text messages found on his phone allegedly show that after learning of accusations of online fraud, Spektor attempted to get rid of a hardware cryptocurrency wallet and replace it.
The victims were spread across the United States, according to prosecutors. One victim in California reported losing more than $1 million, while a Virginia resident reported losing more than $900,000. Other reported losses included about $53,150 from a Pennsylvania man who received fake security alerts and a phone call from someone claiming to work in Coinbase security, and about $38,750 from a Maryland woman who said she was contacted by people identifying themselves as Coinbase employees.
In a statement, Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s chief legal officer, said: “We are grateful to District Attorney Gonzalez and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for their partnership and hard work to protect victims. In this case, Coinbase supported the investigation by helping identify the perpetrator and the customers he defrauded, providing evidence to ensure he could be charged, and assisting law enforcement in tracing and recovering funds related to the phishing scheme fraudulent.”
Grewal added, “We are committed to protecting our customers and working hand-in-hand with law enforcement to hold fraudsters accountable and help bring justice to those they harm.” »
Prosecutors used the opportunity to remind the public to watch out for phishing scams, warning that legitimate companies generally do not ask their customers to transfer cryptocurrencies into so-called secure wallets. They also advised people to check messages through official channels and not act quickly under pressure.
Featured Image: Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office
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