Federal agents have seized another fraudulent cryptocurrency website linked to a growing scam known as “pig butchering,” targeting vulnerable individuals through online deception.
The U.S. Secret Service, working with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York, announced Tuesday the seizure of the web domain NFT-UNI.com. The site was used to defraud victims out of millions of dollars through fake investment schemes. One Warren County resident alone lost over $172,000 between November and March.
“By seizing this website, we are able to strike a blow to a criminal organization that financially victimized numerous individuals, including a member of our community and senior citizens around the country,” said United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III.
In these scams, fraudsters lure victims through dating apps, social media, or random text messages, pretending to form personal relationships. Once trust is gained, they convince victims to invest in fake cryptocurrency ventures hosted on fraudulent platforms like NFT-UNI.com. The funds are then funneled through multiple bank accounts to obscure their origins.
According to court documents, other victims of NFT-UNI.com reported combined losses nearing $4.6 million. Federal officials previously shut down a related domain, OKEX-NFT.net, in May in connection with a similar scheme in Warren County.
The investigation is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Conger and Alexander Wentworth-Ping.
Authorities urge anyone who may have been affected by such scams to report their cases at [email protected] or IC3.gov. Reports should include relevant website URLs, contact details used by the scammers, and information on cryptocurrency transactions.
The action is part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, which works to combat financial fraud against older adults. Tips can also be shared via the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
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