Canadian Scammer Steals Over $2 Million in Cryptocurrency

TLDR

• Haby stole over $2 million in cryptocurrency assets.
• Over 21,000 XRP converted to Bitcoin were involved.
• ZachXBT exposed the scam with detailed evidence.

A Canadian scammer, known by the alias Haby, has reportedly stolen over $2 million in cryptocurrency. Over the past year, Haby impersonated Coinbase support across Telegram and phone calls. This individual, operating from Abbotsford near Vancouver, targeted multiple Coinbase users.

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT exposed the scam using on-chain analysis and social media tracing. The scammer is described as a “Canadian threat actor,” possessing rare Telegram usernames and spending illicit gains on luxury items. ZachXBT’s findings indicate no prior industry involvement for Haby.

Details from ZachXBT on Social Media

ZachXBT shared comprehensive details of the scam in a recent X post, including wallet screenshots and victim interactions. Evidence presented includes a video of Haby defrauding a victim, showcasing the email [email protected] and Telegram IDs 8157445457/8361120781.

The investigator revealed poor operational security by Haby, citing selfies and metadata from “Harvi’s MacBook Air” as part of the evidence. Despite significant evidence, there have been no official statements from Coinbase or other exchanges at this time.

Cryptocurrency Assets Involved

The stolen assets include over 21,000 XRP, converted to Bitcoin via instant exchanges. The total sum across these thefts exceeds $2 million, with at least five incidents documented. Funds tracked did not impact broader market protocols but were confined to individual user wallets.

No other cryptocurrencies were reported as stolen beyond XRP and Bitcoin. No evidence connects these transactions to changes in Total Value Locked or liquidity in broader markets. The funds remained distanced from affecting governance tokens or Layer 1/2 assets.

Enforcement and Community Reaction

ZachXBT expressed hope for Canadian law enforcement’s intervention due to Haby’s identified location and actions. Despite strong evidence, actions against such individuals are rare. As for the regulatory landscape, there are no updates from agencies like the SEC or CFTC.

Meanwhile, the community response has been muted, with no direct commentary from key opinion leaders such as Arthur Hayes, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), or Vitalik Buterin. ZachXBT remains the primary source of information on this case.

No community or developer sentiment, GitHub activity, or roadmap updates were noted beyond ZachXBT’s findings.

ZachXBT

Further information on scams and preventative actions can be found here. Such scams reflect broader trends seen in past reports, highlighting the ongoing risks posed by social engineering tactics in the crypto industry.