Canadian Bitcoin Scammer to Face Two Years Jail for $140k Twitter Fraud

[Baofeng]

Canadian Bitcoin Scammer to Face Two Years Jail for $140k Twitter Fraud

According to court records on 16 December, brothers Jagroop Singh Khatkar and Karanjit Singh Khatkhar pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit a Twitter scam in July 2018.

Two Canadian Scammers Stole About 23 Bitcoins

The two brothers stole about 23 bitcoins (valued at around $ 157,000 today) from a 63-year-old Oregon woman. They were also setting up a fake Twitter account to impersonate HitBTC in Hong Kong. Karanjit and Jagroop trapped the woman to share her login credentials. And then they used this information to remove 23.2 bitcoins from the woman’s HitBTC account on Karanjit’s Kraken account.

Karanjit was arrested in July, and Jagroop surrendered on Monday, the report said. Each also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit electronic fraud and money laundering. The two may serve a two-year sentence when authorities announce the sentence on 17 March. Jagroop is still finishing his university studies, awaiting his sentence.

https://atozmarkets.com/news/canadian-bitcoin-scammer-face-two-years-jail-140k-twitter-fraud/

court documents: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16078568/united-states-v-khatkar/

At least justice has been served, but I don't know if two years is enough for this two. I don't know, but I have a feeling that once they got out, they will continue their cyber crimes here. And one of them are still in university? damn he just waste two years of his life.

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[avikz]

I really hope every single frauds and scammers get arrested by police and the victims find their justice! The numbers of such financial frauds using involving cryptos are rising at an alarming rate which is really harming the reputation of cryptos. Regulators and enforcement agencies must step in before things get out of hand.

I will not be surprised if they continue with such malpractices after they get out of the jail. Criminals usually show such signs from a very young and tender age. If they are not raised well, chances are high that they will indulge in such malpractices kver and over again!

[dothebeats]

Typical scam techniques are now being employed on cryptocurrencies to target the common victims of the said fraud, which are older women and people who are not well-educated on technology to make sure that they will always get what they wanted and easily lure people into thinking that what the scammers offer are the real deal.

It just feels so good that these scammers are getting what they deserved: jail time for causing trouble and disrupting the scene that's thriving so well even with the likes of them.

[Kemarit]

I really hope every single frauds and scammers get arrested by police and the victims find their justice! The numbers of such financial frauds using involving cryptos are rising at an alarming rate which is really harming the reputation of cryptos. Regulators and enforcement agencies must step in before things get out of hand.

Right, it really hurts the image of crypto as a whole when we heard people getting scammed. At least with this case, those culprits are caught and put to justice. Maybe government agencies are working very hard to catch as many as them because the ecosystem has been plague with criminals.

I will not be surprised if they continue with such malpractices after they get out of the jail. Criminals usually show such signs from a very young and tender age. If they are not raised well, chances are high that they will indulge in such malpractices kver and over again!

I hope not, they should learn their lessons here. If they want to get involved in crypto, they should work their ass off and not steal from unsuspecting victims again.

[CryptoBry]

At least justice has been served, but I don't know if two years is enough for this two. I don't know, but I have a feeling that once they got out, they will continue their cyber crimes here. And one of them are still in university? damn he just waste two years of his life.

The whole cryptocurrency industry should be pushing a minimum of 10 years jail plus at least ten times fine for anyone proven to have committed a scam or fraud using cryptocurrency most especially victimizing our elderly. This industry has become like a big paradise for so many scammers and hackers. We should be sending a very strong message to these people that even if they are dealing with cryptocurrency known with anonymity, the arm and force of the law will one day get their butts exposed to the whole world. We don't have any iota of space for people whose mindset is set on doing anything even if illegal just so they can get the money they wanted.

[joelsamuya]

I really hope every single frauds and scammers get arrested by police and the victims find their justice! The numbers of such financial frauds using involving cryptos are rising at an alarming rate which is really harming the reputation of cryptos. Regulators and enforcement agencies must step in before things get out of hand.

Right, it really hurts the image of crypto as a whole when we heard people getting scammed. At least with this case, those culprits are caught and put to justice. Maybe government agencies are working very hard to catch as many as them because the ecosystem has been plague with criminals.

I will not be surprised if they continue with such malpractices after they get out of the jail. Criminals usually show such signs from a very young and tender age. If they are not raised well, chances are high that they will indulge in such malpractices kver and over again!

I hope not, they should learn their lessons here. If they want to get involved in crypto, they should work their ass off and not steal from unsuspecting victims again.

We should not allow these people to be destroying all the gains that the cryptocurrency industry has so far achieved. Right now, many people are thinking that cryptocurrency is a scam industry all because they always hear of many schemes which purpose is to victimize people out of their money. This is something unacceptable and that is why we should be supporting any movement to curtain what scammers are doing. 

[malevolent]

The whole cryptocurrency industry should be pushing a minimum of 10 years jail plus at least ten times fine for anyone proven to have committed a scam or fraud using cryptocurrency most especially victimizing our elderly. This industry has become like a big paradise for so many scammers and hackers. We should be sending a very strong message to these people that even if they are dealing with cryptocurrency known with anonymity, the arm and force of the law will one day get their butts exposed to the whole world. We don't have any iota of space for people whose mindset is set on doing anything even if illegal just so they can get the money they wanted.

No need for populist measures, it'd be enough if most thieves and fraudsters were actually being investigated and prosecuted.

[Lucius]

At least justice has been served, but I don't know if two years is enough for this two. I don't know, but I have a feeling that once they got out, they will continue their cyber crimes here.

Ridiculously small penalties if you ask me because punishment should deter the perpetrator from repeating the crime, rather than encourage him to try again, with an emphasis on being more careful next time (not to get caught). If the Canadian penal system is like most others, then brothers will most likely serve only 2/3 of their sentences and will continue to do the same things as before.

I'm not a racist and I don't look at people by the color of their skin, but these are not Canadians - these are immigrants who think they are intelligent but actually embarrass themselves and their compatriots. Once a thief, always a thief - article with picture one of the scammers : Judge denies release of a Canadian man accused of duping Oregon woman in Bitcoin fraud

[Lanatsa]

I'm not a racist and I don't look at people by the color of their skin, but these are not Canadians - these are immigrants who think they are intelligent but actually embarrass themselves and their compatriots. Once a thief, always a thief - article with picture one of the scammers :

100% not a canadian and i do believe this one either a indian or a thailander. Its just right for these scammers to get imprisoned for the crimes that they had done.
They thought that they cant be traced up and they do outsmart the authorities? Well, they believe on the wrong thing and they arent that smart enough to erase their traces. lol

[eaLiTy]

100% not a canadian and i do believe this one either a indian or a thailander. Its just right for these scammers to get imprisoned for the crimes that they had done.

These are Indian brothers settled in Canada and good to see scammer busted and the glad news is that the women will get her coins back.

They thought that they cant be traced up and they do outsmart the authorities? Well, they believe on the wrong thing and they arent that smart enough to erase their traces. lol

These are dumb kids who impersonated HitBTC customer care via Twitter and somehow convinced the customer to give her login credentials and moved the coins to their Kraken account  .

Everyone should be made aware that the login credentials should not be shared even if the customer care representatives ask for it as they can check the back end without the credentials.

[Yaunfitda]

I'm not a racist and I don't look at people by the color of their skin, but these are not Canadians - these are immigrants who think they are intelligent but actually embarrass themselves and their compatriots. Once a thief, always a thief - article with picture one of the scammers :

100% not a canadian and i do believe this one either a indian or a thailander. Its just right for these scammers to get imprisoned for the crimes that they had done.
They thought that they cant be traced up and they do outsmart the authorities? Well, they believe on the wrong thing and they arent that smart enough to erase their traces. lol

Of course, criminals always think that they are smart and can out run the authorities and can commit any crimes whether the country of. their origin or the country they have settled.

However, we all know that authorities are just waiting for this so called smart criminals to make that one single mistakes. And then the cat and mouse game begins which usually ended on criminals being caught.

[audaciousbeing]

Canadian Bitcoin Scammer to Face Two Years Jail for $140k Twitter Fraud

According to court records on 16 December, brothers Jagroop Singh Khatkar and Karanjit Singh Khatkhar pleaded guilty of conspiracy to commit a Twitter scam in July 2018.

Two Canadian Scammers Stole About 23 Bitcoins

The two brothers stole about 23 bitcoins (valued at around $ 157,000 today) from a 63-year-old Oregon woman. They were also setting up a fake Twitter account to impersonate HitBTC in Hong Kong. Karanjit and Jagroop trapped the woman to share her login credentials. And then they used this information to remove 23.2 bitcoins from the woman’s HitBTC account on Karanjit’s Kraken account.

Karanjit was arrested in July, and Jagroop surrendered on Monday, the report said. Each also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit electronic fraud and money laundering. The two may serve a two-year sentence when authorities announce the sentence on 17 March. Jagroop is still finishing his university studies, awaiting his sentence.

https://atozmarkets.com/news/canadian-bitcoin-scammer-face-two-years-jail-140k-twitter-fraud/

court documents: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16078568/united-states-v-khatkar/

At least justice has been served, but I don't know if two years is enough for this two. I don't know, but I have a feeling that once they got out, they will continue their cyber crimes here. And one of them are still in university? damn he just waste two years of his life.

Aside the fact that they be made to go to jail, they should also be made to ensure that all of the money they stole be recovered from them then they realise that it does not pay to engage in crime. When youth especially thought about scamming people of their resources, they usually believe that they are expendable and they can do it without anyone making them pay, and the funny thing is that funds generated from such unwholesome means is usually squandered and nothing to show for it. To others who have chosen crime as a way of life, your time of reckoning is around the corner. Take note.

[Harlot]

Wow!!! I can't imagine that a 63 year old  woman holds that much of Bitcoin in her Kraken account. Mostly you will see scams only using the name of cryptocurrencies as a type of ponzi investment scheme but you will barely see news about old persons being scammed from exchanges itself. This case is good as closed sinces the brothers already pleaded guilty and the woman recovered most of her money because the accused have returned most of it, they might did this in order to receive a lower punishment for their fraud.

[btc_angela]

Wow!!! I can't imagine that a 63 year old  woman holds that much of Bitcoin in her Kraken account. Mostly you will see scams only using the name of cryptocurrencies as a type of ponzi investment scheme but you will barely see news about old persons being scammed from exchanges itself. This case is good as closed sinces the brothers already pleaded guilty and the woman recovered most of her money because the accused have returned most of it, they might did this in order to receive a lower punishment for their fraud.

Maybe it was the old's lady's retirement plan or she is just rich and we thought that millennials are the one investing into crypto. But this women proves otherwise. Anyways, I do hope that she really get back the money she deserves and the crooks go behind bars for the crimes they committed to the old lady.

[Steamtyme]

The sentence seems inline with a judges weighted average. Canadian here lol. They will have looked into their past and possible future if rehabilitated, they will also see that it was a crime with 1 victim. The sentence would have been harsher if it was the same amount from numerous victims. I didn't look but the comments suggest they are landed immigrants or permanent citizens, there's a chance they will face deportation after their sentences - it varies based on the type of crime and has been changing the last few years.

Not going to lie I would have wanted to see a harsher sentence in terms of time maybe 1 or 2 more years added, but definitely a community service type aspect would help. WE do it with Drunk Drivers all the time they make a commercial or something about what they did... generally including who they killed. Here they could be making a PSA for the populous about how easy it is to trick you into giving them your crypto. I'm not sure about what the victim will recover, odds are that all their possessions will have been confiscated as proceeds of crime and their computers and internet presence searched for any coins that can be returned. She can also likely sue from the US, and in most cases Canada enforces that type of litigation.

Once a thief, always a thief

I must respectfully disagree. People constantly change, and for most people spending 10% of your like in bars at an age when you should still be having fun as a young adult can be seen as a life changing incident. Now would I outright trust them or release them early, not a chance. Serve the 2 years don't bitch or complain then be better is all I can hope.

Glad to see people do get rounded up every now and then. Especially considering my own little faux pas not to long ago.

[Lanatsa]

100% not a canadian and i do believe this one either a indian or a thailander. Its just right for these scammers to get imprisoned for the crimes that they had done.

These are Indian brothers settled in Canada and good to see scammer busted and the glad news is that the women will get her coins back.

They thought that they cant be traced up and they do outsmart the authorities? Well, they believe on the wrong thing and they arent that smart enough to erase their traces. lol

These are dumb kids who impersonated HitBTC customer care via Twitter and somehow convinced the customer to give her login credentials and moved the coins to their Kraken account  .

Everyone should be made aware that the login credentials should not be shared even if the customer care representatives ask for it as they can check the back end without the credentials.

Basic thing but there are still people who do fall on such scheme.For sure these people wont really learn until they do experience problems and for sure that old woman already
know on how things works and would definitely avoid future possible schemes that she would face up in the way.On any crimes that had been commited by someone would
really have that fate which would go to prision.They might able to bypass their countries laws or government but you cant be sure that you wont be caught on other places.

[Lucius]

I must respectfully disagree. People constantly change, and for most people spending 10% of your like in bars at an age when you should still be having fun as a young adult can be seen as a life changing incident. Now would I outright trust them or release them early, not a chance. Serve the 2 years don't bitch or complain then be better is all I can hope.

Glad to see people do get rounded up every now and then. Especially considering my own little faux pas not to long ago.

People are changing, there is no doubt about it, but most people in jail pick up more bad habits, or just perfect their old skills. I can't say what the prison system is like in Canada, but I suppose it's much better than the one in the USA. I'd like to believe that the two will change, but I wouldn't bet too much on that outcome.

The punishment is too small for me, and it sends an arguably bad message to those who are considering doing something similar. The potential benefit of successful theft far outweighs the possible sentence, 2 years is actually an acceptable risk for some - while 5+ years would probably deter some from attempting anything like this at all.

[Lee01]

At least justice has been served, but I don't know if two years is enough for this two. I don't know, but I have a feeling that once they got out, they will continue their cyber crimes here.

Ridiculously small penalties if you ask me because punishment should deter the perpetrator from repeating the crime, rather than encourage him to try again, with an emphasis on being more careful next time (not to get caught). If the Canadian penal system is like most others, then brothers will most likely serve only 2/3 of their sentences and will continue to do the same things as before.

The penalty is adequate for me because I perceive it surely would be constitutional, crimes have a stated kind of prosecution and this which the court will always go by.
Come to think of it two years ain't too small, two years out of what so ever one has been into is not so simple it'd also  help bring them to order afterwards.

[Harlot]

Wow!!! I can't imagine that a 63 year old  woman holds that much of Bitcoin in her Kraken account. Mostly you will see scams only using the name of cryptocurrencies as a type of ponzi investment scheme but you will barely see news about old persons being scammed from exchanges itself. This case is good as closed sinces the brothers already pleaded guilty and the woman recovered most of her money because the accused have returned most of it, they might did this in order to receive a lower punishment for their fraud.

Maybe it was the old's lady's retirement plan or she is just rich and we thought that millennials are the one investing into crypto. But this women proves otherwise. Anyways, I do hope that she really get back the money she deserves and the crooks go behind bars for the crimes they committed to the old lady.

Either way you can't really see this coming from an old person. Usually what you will see in the news is that the older generation we have isn't in favor into these digital assets as for one for their age it will be a steep learning curve for them with the technology involve that's why you will see more younger generation especially the millennials adopting it more. So really I am just surprised that an old lady was a victim of crypto related fraud here. I actually see this as one of the disadvantage of being and old person or a newbie in the market as they get fooled easily by the common scams found in the internet.

[figmentofmyass]

Once a thief, always a thief

I must respectfully disagree. People constantly change, and for most people spending 10% of your like in bars at an age when you should still be having fun as a young adult can be seen as a life changing incident.

agreed there.

i got in my own share of trouble during my late teens. in fact it was my first year of university, like one of the brothers in this case. no need to revisit the details, but living down that sentence (particularly the shame of it) set me straight.

The punishment is too small for me, and it sends an arguably bad message to those who are considering doing something similar. The potential benefit of successful theft far outweighs the possible sentence, 2 years is actually an acceptable risk for some - while 5+ years would probably deter some from attempting anything like this at all.

i suppose it depends on the person and the circumstances. a lot of people wouldn't survive 2 years in an american prison, and they know this.

in canada, i'm not sure....

[Steamtyme]

People are changing, there is no doubt about it, but most people in jail pick up more bad habits, or just perfect their old skills. I can't say what the prison system is like in Canada, but I suppose it's much better than the one in the USA. I'd like to believe that the two will change, but I wouldn't bet too much on that outcome.
The punishment is too small for me, and it sends an arguably bad message to those who are considering doing something similar. The potential benefit of successful theft far outweighs the possible sentence, 2 years is actually an acceptable risk for some - while 5+ years would probably deter some from attempting anything like this at all.

Yes all of that can also unfortunately be true. It really comes down to the individual and their desire to be better than they were. Canada does state it focuses on reforming inmates and has certain sentences that involve restorative justice - often involves facing the victim and working through the process with them. Definitely has mixed results and often I dont' think the system is set up to properly meet it's expected goals.
The US is quite different they have a for profit prison system. So it's in someones interest to have repeat offenders and create situations where they inevitably get stuck in a system that can suck you back in for simply attempting to live after prison.
What I disagree with most here anyways is that time served in custody pre sentance carries more weight. It used to be like 2:1 or something like that, maybe more. This often reduces sentances to time served and imo is a failing. In this case I would expect to see a lot of conditions placed on them after release this can be things like monitoring their internet usage and limiting their activities for a given period of time.

agreed there.
i got in my own share of trouble during my late teens. in fact it was my first year of university, like one of the brothers in this case. no need to revisit the details, but living down that sentence (particularly the shame of it) set me straight.

Good for you. Shitty way to have to learn but it seems to have turned out for the best.

[Kyraishi]

The scam itself actually had nothing to do with bitcoin.

The only part of the scam was that involved BTC was how the payment was transferred. They deserve to be incriminated for taking advantage of these vulnerable people and defrauding them out of their hard earned savings, regardless of whether or not the payment processor is one or another.

It makes no sense to report it as a "bitcoin scam" in my opinion. All it does is shed a bad light on bitcoin's reputation.

[imstillthebest]

The scam itself actually had nothing to do with bitcoin.

The only part of the scam was that involved BTC was how the payment was transferred. They deserve to be incriminated for taking advantage of these vulnerable people and defrauding them out of their hard earned savings, regardless of whether or not the payment processor is one or another.

It makes no sense to report it as a "bitcoin scam" in my opinion. All it does is shed a bad light on bitcoin's reputation.

still related to bitcoin because the scamer uses a bitcoin , that is why they call it bitcoin scam  .  the scamer does not also intend to damge the reputation of bitcoin but he only cares about his own business . he use bitcoin as a medium to scam people because he know that bitcoin right now is hot   .  the sentenced two years in jail was alot imo  but it also depend on the victim if this what he wants   .  we never know if the scammer do also scam many people before he end up on bitcoin  .