An Arizona man pretending to be an Uber driver has been arrested for allegedly stealing thousands in cryptocurrency from passengers using their phones under false pretenses, according to Scottsdale police.
Between March and December 2024, Nuruhussein Hussein reportedly targeted passengers waiting for Uber rides outside Scottsdale's W Hotel, Fox 10 Phoenix reported.
He deceived victims by addressing them by name and convincing them to hand over their phones, claiming his own device was broken or offering to troubleshoot app issues.
Once in possession of the phones, he accessed and transferred cryptocurrency from victims' Coinbase accounts, allegedly stealing over $300,000 in cryptocurrency.
On December 11 Hussein was arrested by Scottsdale detectives and U.S. Secret Service agents, facing charges of theft, fraud schemes, and money laundering.
Prosecutors emphasized the sophistication of the crime and the flight risk posed by his frequent travel to Ethiopia, leading to a $200,000 secured bond and restrictions including electronic monitoring and an internet ban.
Hussein is due back in court on December 18. The investigation remains active, with authorities seeking more evidence.
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