{"id":60784,"date":"2026-04-17T17:14:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T00:14:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=60784"},"modified":"2026-04-17T17:14:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T00:14:26","slug":"cybercrime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=60784","title":{"rendered":"British man pleads guilty to hacking scheme that stole $8 million in cryptocurrency"},"content":{"rendered":"
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SANTA ANA, Calif.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"gold-colored<\/p>\n

A United Kingdom man has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a cybercrime scheme that targeted U.S. companies and individuals, stealing millions in virtual currency through phishing and SIM-swapping attacks, officials announced Friday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tyler Robert Buchanan, 24, of Dundee, Scotland,<\/strong> pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud<\/strong> and one count of aggravated identity theft.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

He has been in federal custody since April 2025.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

According to his plea agreement, Buchanan and co-conspirators carried out the scheme from September 2021 to April 2023<\/strong>, targeting at least a dozen companies and numerous individuals across the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quick Facts:<\/span><\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Defendant:<\/strong> Tyler Robert Buchanan, 24<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Location:<\/strong> Dundee, Scotland<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Loss amount:<\/strong> At least $8 million<\/strong> in cryptocurrency<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Scheme timeline:<\/strong> Sept. 2021 \u2013 April 2023<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Custody:<\/strong> Since April 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Sentencing date:<\/strong> Aug. 21<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  • Max penalty:<\/strong> 22 years in federal prison<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Prosecutors said the group used SMS phishing (\u201csmishing\u201d) attacks<\/strong>, sending fraudulent text messages that appeared to come from legitimate companies or their contractors. Those messages directed victims to fake websites designed to steal login credentials and personal identifying information.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Once inside company systems, the hackers obtained sensitive data, including usernames, passwords, intellectual property, and personal information<\/strong> such as email addresses and phone numbers.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The conspirators then used that data to access victims\u2019 cryptocurrency accounts. To bypass security protections, including two-factor authentication, they carried out SIM-swapping attacks<\/strong>, fraudulently transferring victims\u2019 phone numbers to devices under their control.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Authorities said Buchanan admitted possessing stolen data, including cryptocurrency seed phrases and account login information<\/strong>, on a device found at his residence in Scotland.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The scheme resulted in the theft of at least $8 million in virtual currency<\/strong> from victims nationwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

    U.S. District Judge John W. Holcomb<\/span><\/span> has scheduled sentencing for Aug. 21<\/strong>, where Buchanan faces\u00a0 up to\u00a022 years in federal prison.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    One co-conspirator, Noah Michael Urban, 21<\/strong>, previously was sentenced to 10 years in prison<\/strong> and ordered to pay $13 million in restitution<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Three additional defendants remain charged in the case and are awaiting further proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    SANTA ANA, Calif.\u00a0 A United Kingdom man has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a cybercrime scheme that targeted U.S. companies and individuals, stealing millions in virtual currency through phishing…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nBritish man pleads guilty to hacking scheme that stole $8 million in cryptocurrency UK man pleads guilty in U.S. to $8M crypto theft scheme using SMS phishing and SIM swapping<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SANTA ANA, Calif.\u00a0 A United Kingdom man has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a cybercrime scheme that targeted U.S. companies and A UK hacker admitted stealing $8M in cryptocurrency via phishing and SIM swaps targeting U.S. victims. 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