tech
U.K. man pleads guilty to hacking scheme that stole $8 million in virtual currency from victims across U.S.
April 18, 2026 / 10:19 AM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Tyler Robert Buchanan pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
- The scheme operated from September 2021 to April 2023, stealing $8 million in virtual currency.
- Hackers used phishing messages to gain access to victims' phones and steal data.
- Victims were directed to fraudulent websites to mimic legitimate ones.
- At least 45 companies in the U.S. and abroad were targeted.
- Buchanan faces a maximum penalty of 22 years in prison.
- Co-conspirators Ahmed Hossam Eldin Elbadawy, Evans Onyeaka Osiebo, and Joel Martin Evans still face charges.
- Cyber-enabled crime defrauded Americans of nearly $21 billion in 2025, with those over 60 being the most vulnerable demographic.