Arizona Man Allegedly Impersonated Uber Driver to Steal $300K in Crypto
Scottsdale detectives, along with the U.S. Secret Service, arrested Nuruhussein Hussein on Dec. 11 for allegedly stealing $300,000 in cryptocurrency. According to authorities, Hussein impersonated an Uber driver in order to steal cryptocurrency from unsuspecting passengers by accessing their phones.
Elaborate Crypto Theft Scheme
Hussein reportedly worked outside Scottsdale’s W Hotel, targeting victims waiting for a ride. The police say he called the passengers by name to make them think that he was their Uber driver.
Once the victims were in his car, Hussein allegedly borrowed their phones, under the guise of troubleshooting the Uber app or fixing a device issue. Police allege during this time, he accessed the victims’ Coinbase accounts, transferring funds to a cold storage wallet.
Court records reflect that Hussein executed this scheme on at least two occasions, in March and then again in October. Authorities would not say how Hussein obtained names of the victims but described his actions as premeditated and calculated.
Threats and Intimidation
One of the victims reportedly became suspicious of Hussein’s actions and demanded their phone back. In response, Hussein is alleged to have threatened the victim, warning them to “chill or something bad would happen.” This act of intimidation further demonstrates the length he allegedly went to execute his thefts.
Arrest and Legal Actions
On Dec. 11, Scottsdale detectives and Secret Service agents arrested Hussein. He has been charged with theft, fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors had secured a $200,000 cash bond and requested Hussein be electronically monitored if he posts bail.
He has been barred from access to the internet and international trips due to the risk of evidence tampering and flight. Court documents showed trips he made to Ethiopia as recently as this year sparked concerns about his potential to flee the country. A trial date is set for Dec. 18.
Offline Crypto Crimes Now on the Rise
The incident has been part of an alarming increase in crypto crimes happening offline. According to GitHub, there were 19 cases of in-person cryptocurrency theft in 2024, up from 17 in 2023. These incidents are very innovative, targeting crypto holders directly.
Another such incident occurred earlier this month when thieves in Melbourne, Australia, stole a Bitcoin ATM from a shopping center. It was later found pried open and set on fire.
The Scottsdale case calls for heightened vigilance on the part of crypto users to take seriously the protection of accounts and devices.
