Defendant Charged With Theft Of Cryptocurrency And NFTs Through Spoofing Of OpenSea Marketplace | DOJ

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Christie M. Curtis, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging SOUFIANE OULAHYANE, a/k/a “Soufiane Oulahya,” for a scheme to impersonate the OpenSea marketplace in order to obtain unauthorized access to cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (“NFTs”).  In September 2021, OULAHYANE stole approximately $450,000 worth of cryptocurrency and NFTs from a victim in Manhattan.  OULAHYANE is currently in custody in Morocco for foreign charges.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Soufiane Oulahyane used a common cybercrime technique to steal victim cryptocurrency and NFTs.  ‘Spoofing’ is one of the oldest tricks in the criminal playbook.  Oulahyane adapted this old tool for use in a new and developing arena – the crypto space.  The charges unsealed today should serve as a reminder that digital assets, such as cryptocurrency and NFTs, are not immune from cyber fraudsters and that my Office is committed to prosecuting these fraudsters both here and abroad.”

Source: Southern District of New York | Defendant Charged With Theft Of Cryptocurrency And NFTs Through Spoofing Of OpenSea Marketplace | United States Department of Justice