A DOJ scammer who pretended to be a Trump-Vance campaign insider has been exposed in a scheme that defrauded a political donor out of $250,000 in crypto, according to a new filing from the U.S. Department of Justice.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, the perpetrator posed as a legitimate political fundraiser connected to Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, convincing the victim to transfer funds in support of a “patriotic cause.” Instead, the funds were diverted to crypto wallets controlled by the fraudster.
Crypto Funds Traced as DOJ Scammer Moves Assets Across Wallets
The scam unfolded in early 2024, when the impersonator used phishing tactics and carefully forged communications to exploit the donor’s trust. The DOJ revealed that a significant portion of the stolen assets was converted into Bitcoin and stablecoins, then moved across multiple wallets to evade detection.
Authorities tracked and identified $40,300 in cryptocurrency, which they are now attempting to seize as part of an ongoing recovery effort. The full extent of the scam may exceed initial estimates, as the investigation into other potential victims continues.
“This case demonstrates the evolving sophistication of fraud schemes targeting both the political sphere and digital assets,” the DOJ stated in its filing.
Read full DOJ press release here.
A Wake-Up Call for Political Donors and Crypto Users
This incident is the latest example of how crypto infrastructure can be weaponized in high-profile fraud cases. By blending political branding with blockchain anonymity, scammers are increasingly able to trick even well-connected individuals into transferring digital funds.
The Department of Justice’s swift response shows that regulators are becoming more adept at tracing crypto flows and recovering stolen assets. However, it also serves as a stark reminder: even seasoned investors must verify communications, especially when political or charitable causes are involved.
