2018 cryptocurrency theft

In 2018, Ellis Pinsky, 15 years old, was accused of masterminding a scheme to steal millions of dollars' worth of cryptocurrencies from the digital wallet of Michael Terpin, a prominent cryptocurrency investor. The scheme involved a social engineering technique known as the SIM swap scam. The case gained significant attention due to Pinsky's young age and the large amount of money involved. It raised questions about the security of digital assets and the challenges in regulating and prosecuting crimes in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies. Pinsky later reached a settlement to pay $22 million dollars in cryptocurrency back to Terpin. Following the controversy, Pinsky pursued higher education and enrolled at New York University.