A guy from Rockport, Massachusetts, has admitted to taking part in a scheme that targeted persons with high-value social media accounts or who were suspected of having substantial quantities of cryptocurrency.
Declan Harrington, 21, and his co-conspirator Eric Meiggs, as well as others, used a practise known as SIM switching to target persons with large quantities of cryptocurrencies or high-value social media profiles, often known as OG (Original Gangster) accounts.
In order to deceive operators into transferring the victims’ phone numbers to SIM cards in the attackers’ possession, attackers impersonate their intended victims in talks with their phone service providers.
After gaining possession of the SIM card, the attackers attempt to get access to the victim’s online accounts by requesting password changes and validation codes or other authentication codes be provided to the phone numbers they now control.
At least ten victims in the United States were targeted by Harrington, Meiggs, and co-conspirators in order to steal or attempt to steal over $530,000 in cryptocurrencies.
On April 28, Meiggs pled guilty to taking control of two victims’ OG accounts on social networking networks. His sentencing date is set for May 24, 2022.
One count of conspiracy, one count of computer fraud and abuse, five charges of wire fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft were all plead guilty by Harrington. For the charges of wire fraud, he could face a term of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
