Apple Impersonator Sentenced for Crypto and NFT Fraud

Amir Hossein Golshan received an eight-year prison sentence for his role in devising multiple online frauds, notably for impersonating Apple’s support personnel. The Department of Justice (DoJ) ordered Golshan to return $1.2 million to his victims. 

Elaborate Schemes to Defraud Victims

Golshan’s criminal activities spanned from April 2019 to February 2023, when he deceived hundreds of individuals. The most lucrative aspect of his fraudulent operations involved posing as a member of Apple’s support team. Golshan convinced victims to implement an ‘advanced security protocol’ for their iCloud accounts using this disguise. This allowed him access to their two-step verification codes, enabling him to log into their iCloud accounts and steal valuable assets, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency.

In one notable instance, Golshan stole an NFT valued at $319,000 and approximately $70,000 in cryptocurrency from a single victim. He later liquidated the NFT for $130,000 in cryptocurrency. In total, five individuals fell prey to this scheme.

Golshan engaged in other deceptive practices executing SIM swaps besides the Apple impersonation scam. He also took control of Instagram accounts, subsequently demanding ransom from followers under threat of deleting the accounts. Additionally, he conned people through Zelle payments, failing to provide promised services. These activities netted him around $82,000 from approximately 500 victims.

The judge presiding over the case labeled Golshan’s actions as demonstrating “wanton cruelty,” leaving victims in a state of “constant fear and worry.” Prosecutors shared this sentiment, noting Golshan’s lack of remorse and disrespect for the law and basic human dignity.

Golshan pleaded guilty to multiple charges on July 19, including wire fraud and accessing a computer to defraud and obtain information. The court’s order for restitution exceeds $1.2 million, reflecting the significant financial impact of his crimes.

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