UK Man Who Hacked Musk, Obama Accounts for Bitcoin Scam Ordered to Pay Back $5 Million

Joseph James O'Connor, who was convicted for a SIM swapping attack that led to the takeover of various Twitter accounts in 2020, has been ordered to repay over $5 million. This scam involved hijacking the accounts of high-profile figures, including Elon Musk and Barack Obama, to defraud individuals of their cryptocurrency. Initially, O'Connor's scheme resulted in approximately 42 Bitcoin, 235 Ethereum, and stablecoins worth around $794,000 at that time. Due to the significant increase in cryptocurrency values, he is now liable for about $5.4 million. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) confirmed that this civil recovery order is part of efforts to ensure that those who commit such crimes do not benefit from their illicit activities. After pleading guilty, O'Connor faced legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York, where he was previously ordered to forfeit $794,012.64. The legal actions taken against him underscore the increasing priority given to hold fraudsters accountable in the crypto space.

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