Rexxfield, a crypto recovery service, has successfully recovered and returned nearly 10 Bitcoin (BTC) that was stolen from a U.S. investor several years ago. The value of the stolen assets has doubled from the initial loss of $326,000 due to the recent surge in Bitcoin’s price.
The victim fell victim to a sophisticated online crypto scam in West Africa, where a social media influencer tricked them into sending 10 BTC to a fake “offline wallet” controlled by scammers. The influencer presented the offline wallet as a secure storage solution, exploiting the victim’s lack of knowledge in crypto storage. Unbeknownst to the victim, they continued to communicate with the scammers for weeks and sent additional funds to the fake wallet.
The alarm bells finally rang when the fake platform’s “support team” stopped responding, leaving the victim unable to access, withdraw, or sell their Bitcoin. The victim attempted to seek help from local law enforcement, but little could be done given the nature of the crime.
Eventually, the victim turned to Rexxfield for assistance, and after conducting intensive investigations, the company was able to unravel the scam. The information gathered helped freeze the stolen assets at the exchange where they were deposited.
Rexxfield identified three Nigerians in their early 20s as the alleged perpetrators of the scam. Two suspects, Christopher (Redacted) (22 years old) and Chinedu Ujukwu (24 years old), have been apprehended with the help of the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The third suspect, Kingsley Obiegbu (22 years old), is still at large, but authorities are actively working towards his arrest.
The Utah State Bureau of Investigation handled the civil forfeiture process, and the funds were returned to the victim on April 17, 2024, according to Rexxfield.
Recovering stolen crypto assets can be challenging, but with the assistance of experts and law enforcement agencies, it is possible to freeze and retrieve the assets. Promptly reporting the crime increases the chances of recovering lost assets before they are laundered.
This incident emphasizes the importance of private investigators in combating online crime. Rexxfield’s swift action, along with international collaboration, demonstrates a successful approach to recovering stolen crypto funds. If you have been scammed, you can contact Rexxfield directly using the provided form.
