December 20, 2025 BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Ronald Spektor, 23, now stands accused of orchestrating one of the most sophisticated "social engineering" nightmares in recent memory—"Operation Phish Net."
The $16 Million "Phish" Hook
Federal and local authorities allege that Spektor didn't just steal; he conducted a symphony of deception. Operating out of his quiet Brooklyn residence, Spektor allegedly bypassed the security of roughly 100 Coinbase accounts.
His weapon of choice? Fear.
Spektor allegedly posed as a Coinbase representative, cold-calling investors with a terrifying message: “Your assets are under attack by a hacker.” To "save" their life savings, victims were convinced to move their funds into a new, "secure" wallet.
The catch? Spektor created the wallets himself. He held the "seed phrases"—the digital keys to the vault—and watched in real-time as millions of dollars in crypto landed directly in his lap.
High-Tech Warfare: Bots and 29,000 Transfers
According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, this wasn't a one-man show. Spektor allegedly:
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Hired Bots: Between April 2023 and December 2024, victims were bombarded with automated text alerts to create a sense of frantic urgency.
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Massive Scale: Prosecutors discovered 29 documents containing tens of thousands of stolen email addresses and passwords.
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The Paper Trail: Using 12 different digital wallets, Spektor allegedly moved funds through a staggering 29,000 transfers to cover his tracks.
In one devastating hit in October 2024, a single California resident was reportedly conned out of $6 million in a matter of moments.
"User-Initiated Actions": The Defense Strikes Back
Spektor’s high-profile attorney, Todd Spodek, isn't backing down. Outside the courtroom, Spodek emphasized that these were "user-initiated actions," arguing that Spektor himself didn't "move" the currency—the users did.
Spektor pleaded not guilty to a 31-count indictment, including:
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First-Degree Grand Larceny
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First-Degree Money Laundering
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Scheme to Defraud
