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How hackers have affected the cryptocurrency market.
Police in Athens, Alabama, have detained 25-year-old Eric Council for hacking the official account of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to the investigation, on January 9, 2024, Council, together with accomplices, hacked the SEC's account and posted a fake message. In a publication on behalf of the head of the commission, it was said that the regulator allowed trading exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for bitcoin on all official US exchanges. After the message appeared, the bitcoin rate instantly rose by $1000.
SEC employees quickly regained control of the account and reported the hack. As soon as the rebuttal appeared, the value of bitcoin collapsed by $2000. It is noteworthy that at that time the commission was indeed discussing the possibility of allowing bitcoin funds to be traded.
The investigation showed that the hackers took advantage of SIM swapping to hack. According to investigators, Council, who operated online under the nicknames Ronin, Easymunny and AGiantSchnauzer, printed a fake ID card on a special printer. To do this, the accomplices sent him data and a photo of a person who had access to the SEC account.
After receiving the SIM card, the fraudster bought a new iPhone for cash. With the help of a phone and a substituted card, the attacker obtained access codes to the SEC account in X and shared them with accomplices. For the successful SIM swap, Council received payment in bitcoins. After the attack, he returned the used iPhone to a store in Birmingham, exchanging it for cash.
Later, the phrases "SECGOV hacking", "telegram sim swap", "how to know if the FBI is investigating me" and "what are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI, even if you have not been contacted" were found in the history of Kaunsil's search queries.
Now Council has been charged with criminal conspiracy and identity theft fraud. The trial will take place in the Northern District of Alabama.
Source
Police in Athens, Alabama, have detained 25-year-old Eric Council for hacking the official account of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on the social network X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to the investigation, on January 9, 2024, Council, together with accomplices, hacked the SEC's account and posted a fake message. In a publication on behalf of the head of the commission, it was said that the regulator allowed trading exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for bitcoin on all official US exchanges. After the message appeared, the bitcoin rate instantly rose by $1000.
SEC employees quickly regained control of the account and reported the hack. As soon as the rebuttal appeared, the value of bitcoin collapsed by $2000. It is noteworthy that at that time the commission was indeed discussing the possibility of allowing bitcoin funds to be traded.
The investigation showed that the hackers took advantage of SIM swapping to hack. According to investigators, Council, who operated online under the nicknames Ronin, Easymunny and AGiantSchnauzer, printed a fake ID card on a special printer. To do this, the accomplices sent him data and a photo of a person who had access to the SEC account.
After receiving the SIM card, the fraudster bought a new iPhone for cash. With the help of a phone and a substituted card, the attacker obtained access codes to the SEC account in X and shared them with accomplices. For the successful SIM swap, Council received payment in bitcoins. After the attack, he returned the used iPhone to a store in Birmingham, exchanging it for cash.
Later, the phrases "SECGOV hacking", "telegram sim swap", "how to know if the FBI is investigating me" and "what are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI, even if you have not been contacted" were found in the history of Kaunsil's search queries.
Now Council has been charged with criminal conspiracy and identity theft fraud. The trial will take place in the Northern District of Alabama.
Source
