PhishingPublished 15 Jun 2026

FBI: Fraudsters use couriers to steal money in crypto scams

Source Bleeping Computer

Description

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warned that criminals are using couriers to collect money from victims of cryptocurrency investment scams, also known as pig butchering or romance baiting. [...]

Impact

Victims suffer direct financial losses by handing over cash to couriers under false pretenses. The scam can lead to repeated extortion as victims are manipulated into paying additional fraudulent fees. The FBI reports significant financial losses from crypto investment scams, with billions lost annually in the U.S. This scam method circumvents electronic transaction blocks by involving physical cash pickups, increasing the difficulty of tracing and recovering funds.

Defensive guidance

The FBI advises individuals to thoroughly research cryptocurrency platforms before investing and to avoid sharing home addresses or delivering cash to unknown persons. Victims should cease all contact with suspected scammers, especially following unsolicited communications. Awareness of manipulation tactics like 'love bombing' is important. The FBI recommends promptly filing complaints with detailed information about the scammers and their methods. No technical patch is applicable as this is a social engineering scam.

Summary

This threat involves a social engineering and phishing scheme where fraudsters use couriers to physically collect cash from victims of cryptocurrency scams. The scammers initially build trust through online platforms and lure victims into fake investment schemes. When electronic transfers are blocked, couriers are dispatched to retrieve cash in person, authenticating themselves with prearranged codes or dollar bill serial numbers. Victims see simulated gains in their virtual wallets and are coerced into further payments for fabricated fees, continuing the fraud cycle. The FBI's public service announcement highlights this tactic as part of broader crypto scam trends and urges victims to report such incidents with detailed information.

References

bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fbi-fraudsters-use-couriers-to-steal-money-in-crypto-scams/ (opens in a new tab)

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Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 15 Jun 2026, 15:30 UTC

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