Alabama Man Charged Over SIM Swap Hacks That Stole $150K in Crypto

shutterstock_1296953614
11 February 2021

A man from Alabama who targeted Manhattan (N.Y.) residents to steal more than $150,000 in cryptocurrency via a SIM-swapping scheme faces a string of charges, the New York Daily News reported Thursday.

  • Joseph Chase Oaks, 22, of Millbrook, Ala., face charges of grand larceny, identity theft and computer trespass, among other charges.
  • Oaks allegedly operated a scam where he accessed 50 online accounts to steal the cryptocurrency between August 2018 and October 2019.
  • By transferring the cell phone numbers of over 300 people to other phones in his possession, Oaks allegedly bypassed two-factor authentication measures to access the online accounts.
  • Prosecutors said the accused worked alongside others in the U.S. and Canada to access over 60 smartphones and hundreds of SIM cards.
  • Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance said in a statement that it's clear SIM-swapping "has only grown more common and prolific" since the first prosecution by New York authorities two years ago.

See also: 10 Arrested Over SIM-Swap Hacks That Stole $100M in Crypto From Celebrities: Europol

Disclosure
The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.