国际破获奥地利加密骗局

奥地利、塞浦路斯和捷克共和国当局通力合作，捣毁了 2017 年 12 月至 2018 年 2 月期间在奥地利运作的加密货币骗局，导致六人因涉嫌欺诈被捕，涉及损失 600 万欧元。该骗局涉及一家虚假在线交易公司通过 ICO 推广加密货币代币，利用了比特币市场的高度，同时缺乏透明度并提供误导性的高回报承诺。

International Law Enforcement Cooperation Dismantles Austrian Crypto Scam

国际执法合作捣毁奥地利加密骗局

Authorities from Austria, Cyprus, and the Czech Republic collaborated in a coordinated takedown of an elaborate cryptocurrency scam originating from Austria, spanning the period from December 2017 to February 2018. Six individuals were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the scheme, which defrauded investors of an estimated €6 million ($6.5 million).

2017 年 12 月至 2018 年 2 月期间，奥地利、塞浦路斯和捷克共和国当局合作，协调打击了一场源自奥地利的精心策划的加密货币骗局。六名个人因涉嫌参与该计划而被捕，该计划欺骗了投资者估计 600 万欧元（650 万美元）。

The perpetrators employed a deceptive online trading platform to promote a novel cryptocurrency token through an initial coin offering (ICO). In their bid to lure victims, the scammers claimed to have developed proprietary trading software and promised exorbitant returns, leveraging the burgeoning Bitcoin market at the time.

犯罪者利用欺骗性在线交易平台通过首次代币发行（ICO）来推广新型加密货币代币。为了引诱受害者，诈骗者声称已经开发了专有交易软件，并承诺利用当时蓬勃发展的比特币市场提供高额回报。

Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, highlighted several red flags associated with the scam. Legitimate ICOs generally operate with transparency, providing detailed information about the individuals responsible for their operation. In this case, however, there was a conspicuous lack of accountability with respect to both the team members and the underlying algorithm of the cryptocurrency.

欧盟执法机构欧洲刑警组织强调了与该骗局相关的几个危险信号。合法的 ICO 通常运作透明，提供负责其运作的个人的详细信息。然而，在这种情况下，团队成员和加密货币的底层算法都明显缺乏责任感。

The crypto scam unraveled in February 2018 when the perpetrators abruptly terminated their online presence, leaving investors stranded with nothing. Subsequent raids conducted at six properties yielded over €500,000 in cryptocurrency, €250,000 in cash, and an assortment of luxury vehicles and real estate, all believed to be proceeds of the fraudulent activity.

加密骗局于 2018 年 2 月败露，肇事者突然终止了他们的在线业务，让投资者一无所获。随后对六处房产进行的突击搜查，发现了超过 50 万欧元的加密货币、25 万欧元的现金以及各种豪华车和房地产，所有这些都被认为是欺诈活动的收益。

British Duo Sentenced for Sophisticated Crypto Scam

英国二人因复杂的加密货币诈骗被判刑

On the other side of the English Channel, authorities dealt a decisive blow to another crypto scam. The South West Regional Organized Crime Unit (SWROCU) successfully prosecuted two British nationals, Jake Lee (38) and James Heppel (42), for stealing over £5.7 million ($7.1 million) worth of cryptocurrency from victims globally.

在英吉利海峡的另一边，当局对另一起加密货币骗局给予了决定性的打击。西南地区有组织犯罪部门 (SWROCU) 成功起诉了两名英国公民 Jake Lee（38 岁）和 James Heppel（42 岁），他们从全球受害者那里窃取了价值超过 570 万英镑（710 万美元）的加密货币。

Lee and Heppel employed a sophisticated technique known as domain spoofing, whereby they replicated the website of Blockchain.com, a popular cryptocurrency exchange. This deception enabled them to trick victims into divulging their login credentials and pilfer Bitcoin from their digital wallets. The criminal operation targeted a staggering 55 victims across 26 countries, amassing a substantial cache of illicit assets.

Lee 和 Heppel 采用了一种被称为域名欺骗的复杂技术，他们通过这种技术复制了流行的加密货币交易所 Blockchain.com 的网站。这种欺骗使他们能够欺骗受害者泄露他们的登录凭据并从他们的数字钱包中窃取比特币。该犯罪行动针对 26 个国家的 55 名受害者，积累了大量非法资产。

The investigation commenced in 2018 when Lee was apprehended by Avon and Somerset Police on suspicion of money laundering. The subsequent discovery of digital devices and Bitcoin wallet recovery seeds prompted SWROCU to delve deeper into Lee's activities. A parallel investigation regarding a separate crypto scam reported by a Wiltshire victim ultimately led investigators to Heppel.

调查始于 2018 年，当时 Lee 因涉嫌洗钱被雅芳和萨默塞特警方逮捕。随后发现的数字设备和比特币钱包恢复种子促使 SWROCU 更深入地研究 Lee 的活动。针对威尔特郡受害者报告的另一起加密货币诈骗的平行调查最终导致调查人员找到了赫佩尔。

Both Lee and Heppel have been held accountable for their crimes. Lee was sentenced to four years in prison, while Heppel received a 15-month sentence. Furthermore, a confiscation order of nearly £1 million was issued against Lee to recompense his victims for the stolen cryptocurrency.

李和赫佩尔都已被追究其罪行的责任。李被判处四年监禁，而赫佩尔则被判处 15 个月监禁。此外，Lee 还被下达了近 100 万英镑的没收令，以补偿受害者被盗的加密货币。

Warning Signs for Investors

投资者的警告信号

These cases serve as cautionary tales for investors considering participating in ICOs or engaging in cryptocurrency trading. The following red flags should prompt investors to exercise heightened vigilance:

这些案例对于考虑参与 ICO 或从事加密货币交易的投资者来说是一个警示。以下危险信号应促使投资者提高警惕：

• Lack of transparency regarding team members and underlying technology
• Exorbitant return promises
• Pressure to invest immediately
• Complex or unclear investment structures
• Unregistered or unlicensed platforms

Cryptocurrency scams continue to evolve and proliferate, targeting unsuspecting investors worldwide. By staying informed about common tactics and exercising due diligence, investors can mitigate the risk of falling victim to these fraudulent schemes.

团队成员和基础技术缺乏透明度过高的回报承诺立即投资的压力复杂或不明确的投资结构未注册或未经许可的平台加密货币骗局继续发展和扩散，针对全球毫无戒心的投资者。通过了解常见策略并进行尽职调查，投资者可以降低成为这些欺诈计划受害者的风险。