Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed prosecutors against two defendants for allegedly going to a number of lengths trying to steal Bitcoin.
The regulator announced late Friday that it charged two people using names Morgan Hunt and Kim Hecroft for "fraudulent call, imitation of CFTC investigator and forging CFTC documents" as part of a comprehensive regime to convince cryptocurrency investors to pay a fake treasure in the bitcoin to the defendants.
According to a press release, Hunt, claiming to be from Arlington, Texas, and can run a business like Diamonds Trading Investment House and Hecroft, claiming to be from Baltimore, Maryland, and may trade as First Options Trading "engaged in fraudulent order to request bitcoin from members of the public.
"In addition, they made two" through false or misleading representations or omissions ", according to a release that includes issuing a CFTC investigator and forging documents with an official CFTC seal and bearing the name of the CFTC General Council. The couple has successfully deceived at least two customers, according to the release. At least one of these victims was persuaded to send the bitcoin to the couple.
Among the allegations, the release notes are the requirement that the defendants forge a document stating that bitcoin investors should pay taxes to the regulator if they wanted to withdraw their bitcoin.
CFTC Director for Enforcement James McDonald said in a statement that "increased public awareness of CFTC involvement in the police in the virtual currency markets has unfortunately provided new opportunities for bad actors."
He added:
"As claimed in the complaint, the defendant tried to exploit public confidence in the CFTC through counterfeit documents claiming to be official CFTC memorandum that requires payment of a tax on cryptocurrency accounts. CFTC does not collect taxes. CFTC is vigilant against fraudsters trying to exploit the reputation of CFTC to cheat customers and take urgent action against such a mistake. "
CFTC seeks to seek compensation for the victims, inconsistent with any gains, penalties, a permanent trade and registration ban for each defendant and a permanent injunction against further violations of the Goods Act Act and the Agency's rules.
