Denver man loses $176,000 to Coinbase impersonation scam via fake customer support call and phishing email, recovering $95,000 with assistance from FBI

Summary

A Denver man named Glen Fishman lost $176,000 in a cryptocurrency scam in November 2024 after a caller impersonated a Coinbase customer support representative. The scammer convinced Fishman that he needed to unlock his account and sent him a fake email that appeared to be from Coinbase. Fishman followed the scammer’s instructions, uploading his ID, passport, and eventually his account password. After realizing the scam, Fishman discovered all his funds had been drained and sold. Law enforcement, including the FBI, recovered $95,000 of the stolen funds, but it may take up to a year for Fishman to regain the money. Fishman said the financial loss has delayed his retirement and caused significant emotional distress.