Feds Hit The Jackpot In NFT Scam Investigation

Updated: 06 July 2023

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has shocked the NFT industry by seizing two non-fungible tokens from a phishing scammer.

While it seems like the NFT market is getting back on its feet in January 2023, the trading volumes rose for two straight months with January recording the highest volume since June last year. This growth is seemingly unprecedented.

However, this recent news can be a game-changer for the ongoing positive trend that the NFT industry is seeing.

The FBI Hits Scammer Chase Senecal

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has seized two non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are allegedly more than $100,000 from a phishing scammer.

Chase Senecal, the alleged scammer in question, who goes by the name of Horroz (HZ) online came into the limelight due to an intensive investigation by independent blockchain investigator and sleuth ZachXBT. Twitter user ZachXBT undertook the activity way back in September and saw that the FBI came into action.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation posted an official notification on February 3rd. The notification outlined that Senecal’s property included an Audemars Piguet (AP) Royal Oak luxury watch worth $41,000.

The notification further added that the property was seized on October 24th. The NFTs included Bored Ape Yacht Club’s #9658 and Doodle #3114, which were valued at a total of around $100,000 at the time of seizure.

While the FBI hasn’t mentioned much about ZachXBT’s involvement in their investigation, the blockchain detective mentioned in one of his Twitter threads about his role.

1/ I am very happy to share the FBI seized crypto, BAYC 9658, AP watch, and Doodle 3114 from the phishing scammer known as Horror (HZ) aka Chase Senecal as a result of my thread. pic.twitter.com/H1JjOjQNuF

— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) February 3, 2023

While there’s no clarity on the degree of legal proceedings that have taken place against Senecal for now, the FBI’s law enforcement bulletin, federal forfeiture is a law enforcement tool that enables the government to “remove—without compensation for the individual—ownership of property involved in a crime.”

While the scam isn’t directly related to the security of NFTs, there seems to be some sort of impact that the industry might face due to this news.

After a dismal 2022, the users are finally looking up to the future prospects that NFTs contain for the upcoming year. The ongoing investigation is certainly going to make the entire blockchain community safer and reduce such instances.

Users looking for getting into NFTs, can further explore projects such as RobotEra, Fight Out, and more which have the tendency to provide decent returns in the near future.

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