The alleged scammer has pleaded not guilty and is being held at Rikers Island
A Brooklyn man has been charged in a sweeping crypto fraud case after allegedly stealing about $15 million by pretending to be a Coinbase customer support employee. Prosecutors say the scheme targeted roughly 100 victims across the United States and ran for more than a year.
According to a criminal complaint, 23-year-old Ronald Spektor contacted Coinbase users by phone, warning them their accounts were in danger. Posing as a company representative, he told victims they needed to act quickly to protect their funds by moving them to a “safe” wallet.
Believing the calls were legitimate, victims shared their seed phrases, which act as master keys to crypto wallets. Once those details were handed over, the funds were transferred to wallets allegedly controlled by Spektor and drained almost immediately. Investigators say some individuals lost life-changing sums, including one user who lost more than $6 million.
Law enforcement claims the stolen crypto was moved through multiple wallets, with more than $5 million traced to accounts linked to online gambling platforms. Other funds were reportedly converted to cash or routed through coin-swapping services to obscure their origin.
Authorities say Spektor’s phone played a key role in the case. Investigators allege it contained messages where he bragged about making millions through scams, discussed hiding proceeds with family members, and admitted to losing large amounts through gambling. Messages on Discord and Telegram allegedly show he also tried to recruit others.
The investigation remains ongoing as more victims continue to come forward.
