Scandalous scheme: American woman accused of stealing $5 million in cryptocurrencies through fake tech support
The cryptocurrency world is once again facing a troubling reminder that the human factor remains the most vulnerable link in the security chain. During my latest analysis of high-profile incidents involving digital assets, I came across a resonant case centered on an American woman, Tiffany Milanovich. Her name is now firmly associated with a brazen theft of at least $5 million, carried out through a sophisticated social engineering scheme.
The Mechanics of the Crime: The Role of the "Call Operator"
Milanovich, as it turned out, served as a "call operator" within an organized group. Her task was to impersonate customer support staff of crypto services, convincing victims to hand over control of their funds. After the accounts were drained, she cynically recorded videos mocking the victims, demonstrating not only malicious intent but also a complete lack of moral boundaries.
The infrastructure for this fraud was streamlined. Milanovich operated as part of a group, mimicking the real technical support of hardware wallets and centralized exchanges. Fake websites for this criminal activity were provided by her accomplices, known under the pseudonyms "bled" and "harm." This points to a high level of organization and role distribution, characteristic of professional cybercrime syndicates.
Major Losses and Brazen Attacks
The scale of the damage is staggering. In June 2026, one victim lost $1.2 million in Bitcoin and Ethereum, with funds withdrawn from a Trezor hardware wallet. The attack began with a fake email purportedly from BitcoinIRA, signed by a certain Patricia Massie, underscoring the attackers' meticulous preparation. Notably, a significant portion of the stolen assets has yet to be moved and remains on-chain.
Another telling case occurred in October 2025, when a victim lost $500,000 in Bitcoin after withdrawing funds from a Coinbase exchange account. Milanovich, seemingly emboldened, even complained about her "small share" and posted transaction screenshots. This indicates that part of the stolen funds was distributed among group members rather than hoarded by a single leader.
Traces of Luxury and Ties to a Known Figure
How Milanovich handled the stolen funds is particularly puzzling. Instead of covering her tracks, she openly flaunted luxury purchases and casino bets on social media. Moreover, some "boastful" videos were edited to make the theft amounts appear even more impressive than they actually were. This is a classic example of cognitive distortion, where a criminal begins to believe in their own impunity.
My sources also point to Milanovich's connection with John "Lick" Dagita, who was previously accused of stealing cryptocurrency seized by U.S. authorities. Dagita was arrested in Saint Martin in March, further confirming the existence of a sprawling network uniting various players in the shadowy crypto market.
My Professional Conclusion
This story is just the tip of the iceberg. According to FBI data, over 80,000 complaints about impersonation of tech support staff were recorded in 2025 alone, with losses exceeding $2.9 billion. Chainalysis notes a nearly 1,400% increase in such schemes in the crypto sector over the past year. I have repeatedly warned: even the most advanced technical security measures are powerless if the user themselves hands over keys to a fraudster. Always verify the identity of the person you're speaking with through official channels, and remember—no legitimate support service will ask you to transfer funds or reveal your seed phrase. Security in this market begins with your own vigilance.