ON
← Back to feed
Young hackers have stolen over 200 million euros in bitcoin from an investor, exposed as a reckless waste
Slovenia🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/8/2026

Young hackers have stolen over 200 million euros in bitcoin from an investor, exposed as a reckless waste

Young hackers breached a cryptocurrency wallet of a wealthy investor in Washington, stealing over 200 million euros in Bitcoin. The perpetrators, 22-year-old Malone Lam, Veer Chetal, and Jeandiel Serrano, met online through gaming forums and impersonated Google employees and Gemini exchange staff to gain access. They exploited security lapses, including sharing Google Drive credentials and using multiple exchanges to launder funds. Despite efforts to conceal their activities, mistakes such as exposing IP addresses led to rapid arrests. The group spent lavishly on luxury items and nightlife, while authorities uncovered nearly 32 million euros in stolen Bitcoin during raids. All three have been arrested, with Lam facing up to 14 years in prison. Cybersecurity experts warn of a sharp rise in crypto-related crimes, with the FBI noting a 50% increase in such fraud reports.

Two individuals fell victim to online fraud, losing more than 2000 euros combined, according to police reports from Celje. In one case, perpetrators promised a favorable loan of 15,000 euros but required the victim to settle costs related to the loan’s rental. The victim paid several thousand euros through multiple messages before communication was abruptly cut off. In another incident, unknown individuals convinced the person that they would transfer 9,000 euros earned through cryptocurrency. They were given access to their online banking account, after which the fraudsters stole thousands of euros from the account. Police in Kranjska confirmed two new cases of online fraud, with one individual losing approximately 423,000 euros and another around 52,000 euros. The total amount stolen by cybercriminals amounts to nearly half a million euros. The investigation into the online fraud is ongoing, and authorities will inform the relevant prosecutor's office of the findings. Authorities warn that online criminals are increasingly sophisticated, using fake profiles and enticing promises to extract money or sensitive financial information. They emphasize that modern cybercriminals are becoming more innovative, making them harder to detect. As such, victims should remain cautious, especially when encountering calls from abroad offering high returns from cryptocurrency earnings. It is advised to immediately terminate such connections. If someone inadvertently engages in a conversation with a scammer, they should avoid installing any applications on their computer or phone and refrain from allowing others to manage their devices. Particularly, no one should be granted access to their online banking credentials. Above all, do not believe claims of quick and substantial profits.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 5 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

Go to the primary sources (3)

The official sources this coverage is built on. Read them directly to bypass framing.

6 reports

Dnevnik logoDnevnikIndependent🔒CenterFactual 95Objective 909/8/2026
Fraudster stole €423,000 from one victim's online bank account and €52,000 from another

The police in Kranj are investigating two cases of online fraud where unknown perpetrators stole €423,000 from one victim and €52,000 from another through online banking. The incidents were reported to the police on Monday, and they stated that the suspect used online banking to defraud the victims. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities will inform the relevant state prosecution about the progress. Police warn that cybercriminals are becoming increasingly creative and innovative, making them difficult to catch. They emphasized that modern online scammers are willing to take on various roles to access people's money and bank information.

Bias read (Center): The article reports on a criminal investigation involving financial fraud but does not present any political opinions, framing, or bias. It provides factual information about the police investigation and includes general warnings about cybercrime without taking a stance or emphasizing any particular

Why factuality (95): This article provides precise figures, 423,000 euros and 52,000 euros, and clearly states that the police are investigating the case. The information matches the cross-source consensus exactly, with no embellishments or inaccuracies.

Why objectivity (90): The article maintains a highly objective tone throughout, presenting only the facts as reported by the police. There is no editorializing or biased language, making it one of the most neutral accounts among the sources.

Lokalec logoLokalecIndependentCenterFactual 90Objective 859/8/2026
Online fraud: two people injured for as much as €475,000

The Kranjska police are investigating a significant online fraud case where two individuals were defrauded totaling approximately 475,000 euros. The victims were targeted through an online bank transfer, with one losing around 423,000 euros and the other approximately 52,000 euros. The police have been alerted to the incident and are currently examining the circumstances of the criminal act. They emphasize the need for vigilance in using online and mobile banking services. Authorities warn that cybercriminals are increasingly sophisticated, employing convincing tactics such as false promises and fabricated stories to manipulate victims into revealing financial information or transferring money.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual report on a criminal activity without overt ideological slant. It focuses on informing the public about the risks of online fraud and emphasizes the importance of caution in digital transactions. There is no evident partisan framing or emphasis on specific political st

Why factuality (90): The article accurately reports the amounts stolen (423,000 euros and 52,000 euros) and confirms that the police are still investigating. It avoids adding any speculative details beyond what is known, aligning well with the cross-source consensus.

Why objectivity (85): The tone remains largely neutral and factual, though it occasionally uses terms like 'žrtev spletne goljufije' ('victim of online fraud') which subtly emphasizes the victim’s perspective over the perpetrator’s, introducing a small degree of imbalance.

Svet24 logoSvet24IndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 809/8/2026
The online scammers have collected an incredible amount of money.

The article reports on two recent cases of online fraud in the Gornja region of Slovenia, where scammers stole over half a million euros from victims through fake investment opportunities. One victim lost approximately €423,000 while another lost €52,000. The police were alerted on Monday shortly after 1 PM and are currently investigating the case, planning to inform the state prosecution. Authorities warn that cybercriminals are becoming increasingly innovative and harder to detect, often posing as legitimate entities offering high returns on investments. They advise people not to trust calls from abroad promising quick profits, especially those involving cryptocurrency, and to avoid sharing access to their devices or banking information.

Bias read (Center): The article focuses on a crime-related incident involving financial fraud and does not present any overtly political stance or ideological framing. It provides factual information about the incidents, police actions, and warnings to the public without showing clear bias toward any political group or

Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the theft of approximately 423,000 euros from one victim and 52,000 euros from another through online banking fraud. It aligns closely with the cross-source consensus, though it uses slightly hyperbolic language like 'neverjetno količino denarja' ('unbelievable amount

Why objectivity (80): The tone is generally neutral and informative, focusing on the actions of the criminals and police warnings. However, phrases like 'sladkim obljubam' ('sweet promises') and 'spletni prevaranti' ('online scammers') carry mild negative connotations, suggesting a slight bias against the perpetrators ra

Večer logoVečerIndependent🔒CenterFactual 85Objective 759/7/2026
Promised credit and cryptocurrency earnings, ran out of money.

Two online scams targeting residents of Celje resulted in over 2000 euros in losses. In the first case, scammers promised a favorable loan of 15,000 euros but required the victim to settle costs related to the loan application, leading her to send several thousand euros before communication ceased. In the second incident, unknown individuals convinced a man he would receive 9,000 euros from cryptocurrency earnings, prompting him to grant access to his online banking. The fraudsters then stole thousands of euros from his account.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about two separate cybercrime incidents without overt ideological framing. It focuses on the criminal activity itself rather than political implications, maintaining a balanced tone by reporting both cases objectively without commentary on broader societal or

Why factuality (85): The article reports on two online scams involving financial loss totaling over 2000 euros. It provides specific details such as the amounts lost, the nature of the scams (credit offers and cryptocurrency earnings), and the actions taken by the victims. While no primary source is available, the infor

Why objectivity (75): The article presents the events in a straightforward manner but uses emotionally charged terms like 'spletni goljufi' (online scammers) and 'oškodovanca' (victims), which may imply judgment. The focus on the negative outcomes of the scams suggests a somewhat critical stance toward the victims' gulli

Večer logoVečerIndependent🔒CenterFactual 70Objective 759/8/2026
Young hackers have stolen over 200 million euros in bitcoin from an investor, exposed as a reckless waste

Young hackers breached a cryptocurrency wallet of a wealthy investor in Washington, stealing over 200 million euros in Bitcoin. The perpetrators, 22-year-old Malone Lam, Veer Chetal, and Jeandiel Serrano, met online through gaming forums and impersonated Google employees and Gemini exchange staff to gain access. They exploited security lapses, including sharing Google Drive credentials and using multiple exchanges to launder funds. Despite efforts to conceal their activities, mistakes such as exposing IP addresses led to rapid arrests. The group spent lavishly on luxury items and nightlife, while authorities uncovered nearly 32 million euros in stolen Bitcoin during raids. All three have been arrested, with Lam facing up to 14 years in prison. Cybersecurity experts warn of a sharp rise in crypto-related crimes, with the FBI noting a 50% increase in such fraud reports.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual account of a cybercrime without overt ideological slant. It focuses on the technical aspects of the theft, the modus operandi of the hackers, and the legal consequences without promoting any particular political agenda. While the crime has implications for financial监管,

Why factuality (70): The article mentions a total loss of 475,000 euros, combining 423,000 and 52,000 euros. While this figure is close to what other sources report, it introduces an additional layer of detail about the victims being 'fizični osebi' (physical persons) without clarifying if this refers to individuals or

Why objectivity (75): The article is mostly neutral but includes some generalizations such as 'spletni prevaranti uporabljajo vse bolj prepričljive zvijače' ('online scammers use increasingly convincing tactics'), which implies a judgment on the nature of the crime rather than simply stating the facts.

24ur (POP TV) logo24ur (POP TV)IndependentCenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 809/8/2026
Victim of online fraud loses more than $400,000

The article reports on a cybercrime case being investigated by Kranjska police, where two individuals were victims of online fraud. One victim suffered a loss of approximately 423,000 euros through an online bank transfer, while the other lost around 52,000 euros. The incident highlights the increasing prevalence of financial scams targeting individuals via digital platforms.

Bias read (Center): The article presents a factual report on a criminal investigation without overtly favoring any political ideology or group. It focuses on the crime itself and the impact on individual victims, without commentary on broader societal issues or political implications.

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (80): The article maintains a neutral tone in reporting the incident, focusing on the facts of the case without apparent bias or emotional language. It does not appear to favor any particular side or inject personal opinion.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories