$91M Gone in a Single Click
A shocking case of crypto theft has surfaced after blockchain investigator ZachXBT revealed that a Bitcoiner lost 783 BTC worth $91 million in a single social engineering attack.
The theft occurred on Tuesday at 11:06 am UTC, when impostors posing as exchange and hardware wallet support tricked the victim into giving away sensitive information.
How the Scam Worked 🎭
The attackers didn’t use complex code or hacking tools — instead, they relied on social engineering, a psychological trick where victims are manipulated into revealing their private keys or passwords.
After securing access, the scammer transferred the stolen BTC to a fresh wallet address and then started laundering the funds through the privacy-focused Wasabi Wallet to cover their tracks.
ZachXBT’s Warning 🚨
ZachXBT emphasized that the best protection against these scams is to treat every call or email as a potential scam by default. Attackers often impersonate trusted companies like Ledger or Trezor, urging users to perform “critical updates” or share recovery phrases — which should never be shared.
Not North Korea This Time 🌐
While some suspected the infamous North Korean Lazarus Group, ZachXBT dismissed that theory. Instead, the evidence points to independent scammers using familiar impersonation tactics.
Ironically, this attack happened exactly one year after the $243 million Genesis creditor theft, showing scammers are persistent in targeting crypto holders.
A Growing Wave of Crypto Theft 💰
Sadly, this case is not isolated. Blockchain security firm CertiK reported that over $2.1 billion was stolen in crypto-related hacks and scams in just the first five months of 2025.
The biggest hit this year remains the $1.4 billion Bybit exploit in February, but individual investors are also being heavily targeted. In April, an elderly U.S. citizen lost more than $330 million in Bitcoin to a similar social engineering scam.
Protecting Your Crypto 🔐
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Never share your seed phrase or private keys.
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Be skeptical of emails, phone calls, or letters claiming to be from wallet providers.
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Always verify official support channels before responding.
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Use cold storage wallets and avoid storing all assets in one place.
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