Crypto

Law enforcement warns about the dangers of crypto scammers

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2024

Law enforcement warns about the dangers of crypto scammers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – An increasing number of people in the metro have been cheated out of their money through cryptocurrency scams. Scammers can get you even if you don’t use it.

Cryptocurrency scams have stolen billions worldwide and can snatch up your savings, too. Now, law enforcement has stepped up their game to help you stop it.

With a Bitcoin ATM at his gas station, Alfredo Antolin has seen many times firsthand, how people come to make transactions after they have received a phone call but don’t realize they have been scammed.

“I try to tell all the employees in there if they’re older and they’re on the phone, please check in with them,” Antolin said. “And make sure that they’re doing it on their own. That they know what they’re doing and they have their own account and they’re not pushing it to someone else’s.”

In 2023, the Federal Reserve Estimated 18 million adults in America used cryptocurrency, a 3% drop compared to the year before. Now in Clay County, Prosecutor Zach Thompson has seen a rise in scam cases.

“Scammers will direct investors to an online investing platform with the promise of a giant return when in fact they’re actually just stealing that person’s money,” Thompson explained. “The second type of scam, someone will call up their victim and pressure them to pay their bill with cryptocurrency.”

Lately, law enforcement has also seen thieves and drug dealers use digital assets to hide their dark money from the law. Now, investigators have gotten new training to track it down.

“It’s going to go over the basics of cryptocurrency so investigators can recognize potential evidence when they’re out in the field,” Thompson said.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office undergoes cryptocurrency scam training on Aug. 16, 2024.(KCTV5/Alex Love)

Brian Karman led the course. And wants the public to know they can help you. So, never be afraid to report it.

“We have to take that report, we have to get that into the hands of the detective,” Karman said. “So, we can track those stolen funds and recoup those losses.”

Investigators notice more young people fall for scams like this than the elderly. If you do get involved, they advise you to use U.S.-based crypto companies which have more oversight.

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Crypto

Binance Research: April DeFi Exploits Triggered $13 Billion in Outflows

Published

48 minutes ago

June 16, 2026

Press Room

Binance Research: April DeFi Exploits Triggered Billion in Outflows

Key Takeaways

A $13 Billion Wipeout in Days

Binance Research reported that April’s decentralized finance ( DeFi) exploits triggered around $13 billion in outflows, draining total value locked (TVL) across lending markets and decentralized exchanges. The flight pushed the onchain leverage ratio to about 38%, a reading the firm said marks a return to 2021 levels all while showcasing a massive decline in investor confidence.

Image source: X

The outflows can largely be traced back to a cluster of attacks, the largest of which struck liquid- staking protocol KelpDAO. Bitcoin.com News reported that KelpDAO had slammed Layerzero after a roughly $300 million exploit, later shifting its rsETH token to Chainlink’s cross-chain protocol, CCIP, in response.

The breach also rattled the wider ecosystem with lending protocol Aave battling a withdrawal crisis as depositors rushed for the exits. Confidence cracked further when Aave suffered a 44% monthly drop in value locked and outflows spread to neighboring protocols.

The attack’s mechanics unearthed a growing cross-chain threat with Layerzero, most recently, disclosing a remote procedure call (RPC) poisoning incident linked to the $292 million KelpDAO hack, in which attackers corrupted the data feeding the bridge’s verification network.

A Record Month for Hacks

April stood out even in a sector accustomed to breaches as industry trackers counted more than 20 separate exploits during the month, making it one of the most-hacked stretches on record. Aave alone saw billions in deposits exit within 48 hours, and several protocols paused certain operations as trust eroded.

Even then, the sector has shown resilience, with several protocols migrating cross-chain messaging to alternative providers and tightening verification. Binance Research and other analysts have argued that DeFi is evolving, citing the speed at which liquidity has historically returned as confidence has stabilized.

The 38% leverage reading is the figure to watch next, given that a return toward 2021 levels could mean the system has deleveraged sharply (potentially reducing the risk of forced liquidations and signaling diminished risk appetite). In any case, whether deposits rebuild from here will determine if April marked a temporary shock or a longer reset for onchain finance.

Crypto

New ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam Targets Bergen County Residents, Prosecutors Say

Published

11 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

New ‘Pig Butchering’ Scam Targets Bergen County Residents, Prosecutors Say

He said the Financial Crimes Unit is hard at work tracking the fraudsters, shutting down their websites, and hoping to bring them to justice.

There are various types of “pig butchering” scams, according to the federal government. They slowly play on the investor’s emotions and hopes.

“It is a type of confidence and investment fraud in which the victim is gradually lured into making increasing monetary contributions, generally in the form of cryptocurrency,” says the Office of Inspector General’s website, “to a seemingly sound investment before the scammer disappears with the contributed monies.”

If you are a victim of a scam, Becker said, contact your local police department. More information about that is here.

RELATED: Grandma Conned Into Mailing $10K Cash To Teaneck In ‘Grandparent Scam’

Crypto

Bitcoin Tops $66K as US-Iran Deal Triggers Risk-on Rally Across Markets

Published

21 hours ago

June 15, 2026

Press Room

Bitcoin Tops K as US-Iran Deal Triggers Risk-on Rally Across Markets

Key Takeaways

Bitcoin Spikes to $66,600

Bitcoin traded over $66,600 as of Monday morning at 9 a.m. Eastern time, up approximately 3.5% over recent sessions and more than 11% off early-June lows near $59,375. Ethereum climbed to $1,774, gaining roughly 6.5% in the same stretch. XRP added 8.7% and solana ( SOL) rose 7.4%, while the total crypto market capitalization held above $2.35 trillion.

The rally tracked closely with broad risk-on sentiment fueled by weekend geopolitical developments and the continued afterglow of SpaceX’s blockbuster Nasdaq debut.

U.S.-Iran Framework: What’s Known

President Donald Trump announced Sunday via Truth Social that “The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete,” citing an immediate, toll-free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of the U.S. naval blockade on Iranian ports.

U.S. and Iranian officials, along with Pakistani mediators, confirmed they have reached an agreed text for a preliminary memorandum of understanding. The framework extends a ceasefire for 60 days, opens the Strait immediately, and defers nuclear program details to follow-on talks. A formal signing is targeted for Friday, June 19, in Switzerland.

The deal remains tentative. The full text has not been publicly released, Iranian hardliners have expressed opposition, and Israel has indicated it will not be bound by terms involving Lebanon. Former U.S. officials cautioned Monday that the agreement buys time for “long and tedious” nuclear negotiations rather than resolving core disputes.

Oil Drops, Equities Jump

WTI crude fell to the $81 to $85 per barrel range, down 3% to 5% on de-escalation expectations, as the Strait of Hormuz accounts for a significant share of global oil and gas trade. Brent held in the $84 to $87 range.

Nasdaq-100 futures pointed to a gain of more than 2% at the open, with S&P 500 futures up approximately 1.3% and Dow Jones futures adding roughly 1%. The S&P 500 hit an all-time high of 7,620.90 earlier in June 2026 and has shown consistent recovery since February, volatility tied to the initial Middle East conflict.

SpaceX shares gained approximately 6% in pre-market trading on Monday, extending a strong debut after pricing at $135 on June 11 and closing its first Nasdaq session at roughly $161, a 19% gain that pushed its market cap above $2.1 trillion.

Gold Holds Elevated Ground

Gold traded at $4,347 bid and $4,349 ask as of 9 a.m., up 3.05% on the session and touching a daily high of $4,350.40. Silver gained 4.62% to $71.04 bid, while platinum added 4.72% and palladium climbed 5.21%.

Precious metals held elevated levels despite the risk-on shift, supported by ongoing central bank buying and persistent monetary uncertainty even as oil prices retreated.

FOMC Looms Wednesday

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meets June 16 to 17, with a rate decision expected on Wednesday. Markets are pricing in a hold at the current target range. The meeting will include a Summary of Economic Projections, an updated dot plot, and a press conference with the new Chair, Kevin Warsh, that will set the tone for policy guidance through the summer.

Sticky inflation, with recent CPI readings around 4.2% year-over-year in some estimates, remains the primary constraint on any dovish shift. The tone from new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh will be closely watched.

What Traders Are Watching

The next 48 to 72 hours carry significant weight. Markets will monitor:

Official signing details from Switzerland on June 19
Iran Supreme Leader and hardliner responses to the MoU
Israel’s military and diplomatic posture regarding Lebanon
Early Hormuz implementation steps and oil price follow-through
Wednesday’s FOMC statement and dot plot

Crypto remains tied to macro risk appetite. A hawkish Fed surprise on Wednesday could pressure the current rally, while confirmation of the Iran deal’s initial implementation steps would likely extend it.