Then there is the theft of cryptocurrency. As we report in our new podcast series “Scam Inc”, so-called pig-butchering cons play on legitimate crypto owners’ naivety and emotional vulnerabilities. John Powers, boss of Hudson Intelligence, in New Paltz, New York, says many of his clients have lost tokens worth north of $100,000—and in some cases $1m. They are not alone. This global industry is now worth over $500bn a year worldwide. Crooks, moreover, have surely noted that the potential pool is growing. Token values have soared following America’s election of crypto-friendly Donald Trump.
Against this backdrop, specialist firms are developing new forensic software to comb blockchain ledgers in search of stolen digital assets, and to flag possible money-laundering, terrorist financing, and other crimes. The market for such programs is booming. Kroll, an American financial risk and…
