Brooklyn man charged in $15M Coinbase impersonation scam

This April 3, 2013, file photo shows bitcoin tokens in Sandy, Utah. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File

BROOKLYN — RONALD SPEKTOR, 23, OF Brooklyn, has been charged with stealing about $15 million by allegedly posing as a customer-care representative for cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase in order to trick victims into surrendering their credentials, according to Business Insider.

Ronald Spektor allegedly contacted roughly 100 users nationwide between April 2023 and December 2025, falsely warning their accounts were at risk and directing them to move assets to online “wallets” he controlled. Authorities say the victims then provided “seed phrases,” allowing immediate withdrawals of their assets without their consent.

Spektor is held at Rikers Island on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond, awaiting unsealing of his indictment. He faces top counts of grand larceny and money laundering, each punishable by up to 25 years in prison, along with possession of stolen property and personally identifying information.

Investigators allegedly traced more than $5 million to online gambling accounts. His attorney said Spektor has pleaded not guilty and plans to challenge the charges.

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