Latest news with #ShaneStephenDuffy
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Queensland hacker Shane Duffy loses $4.5M in cybercrime asset seizure, including Bitcoins
A decade of cybercrime history Live Events Australia's fight against cybercrime What's next? (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Australian authorities have cracked down on a Queenslander allegedly involved in cybercrime . The accused, Shane Stephen Duffy, had amassed a fortune using hacking techniques over more than a decade. His luck finally ran out with the District Court of Queensland in April 20ordering the forfeiture of more than $4.5 million worth of assets, including a luxury mansion, a sleek Mercedes-Benz, and nearly 25 Bitcoins belonging to him following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT), led by the AFP, announced on May 18 that a District Court in Queensland ordered these assets forfeited to the Commonwealth , closing a long-running investigation known as Operation laws allow authorities to seize suspected crime proceeds even without a criminal story begins back in 2013 when 950 Bitcoins were reportedly stolen from a cryptocurrency exchange in 2018, Luxembourg law enforcement tipped off Australia 's financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, about suspicious Bitcoin transactions tied to the Queensland passed the information to the AFP's CACT, triggering an extensive probe into the origin of the Bitcoin and the man's investigation identified suspected links between the man and the theft of 950 Bitcoin from a French cryptocurrency exchange in had frozen the man's Beachmere waterfront home, a black 2019 Mercedes-Benz sedan, and almost 25 Bitcoin, valued at over $4 million at today's rates, by July 2023, after determining the assets did not match any legitimate income Commander Jason Kennedy highlighted the importance of targeting criminal profits as he said, 'Criminals are driven by greed at the expense of honest Australians and businesses who are losing their hard-earned money to cyber criminals.'He emphasized that the seizure of these assets disrupts criminal networks and ensures ill-gotten gains are reinvested in community safety and crime 2019, the CACT has restrained over $1.2 billion in assets linked to criminal activities across Australia, including homes, cars, yachts, cryptocurrency, and luxury goods. The taskforce brings together specialists from the AFP, Australian Border Force, Taxation Office, and intelligence agencies to trace and recover criminal confiscated assets will be sold, with proceeds placed in a Commonwealth fund supporting law enforcement and crime prevention initiatives, from drug intervention programs to technology upgrades combating cyber threats.
7NEWS
18-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Beach mansion, Benz and Bitcoin worth $4.5m seized from League of Legends hacker Shane Stephen Duffy
Luxury assets worth more than $4.5 million have been forfeited after being linked to a previously convicted Queensland hacker. The haul, including a beachfront mansion, a 2019 black Mercedes-Benz sedan, and nearly 25 Bitcoin, was seized in April following a years-long investigation into stolen cryptocurrency and cyber hacking. The AFP -led Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) secured the forfeiture under proceeds of crime laws, arguing the assets were not in line with any identifiable legitimate income. The assets were linked to Shane Stephen Duffy, a 32-year-old man from Queensland. He had been previously convicted of hacking Riot Games, the US-based gaming company behind the hit video game League of Legends. The CACT investigation began in 2018 after AUSTRAC was tipped off by authorities in Luxembourg about suspicious Bitcoin transactions. Investigators suspect Duffy stole 950 Bitcoin from a French cryptocurrency exchange in 2013, now worth about $150 million. While no criminal charges were laid in relation to the alleged theft, the CACT was able to restrain the suspected proceeds of crime under federal laws, even without a related prosecution. Authorities secured restraining orders over the assets in 2019, and they were officially forfeited in April. The seized waterfront home, purchased in 2018 for $1.1 million and held in Duffy's mother's name, is now estimated to be worth about $2 million. Money from the eventual sale will go into a special fund that supports crime prevention and law enforcement initiatives. AFP Commander Jason Kennedy said stripping criminals of their profits was a key strategy in disrupting cybercrime networks. 'The Proceeds of Crime Act provides law enforcement agencies with unique powers to restrain and forfeit instruments and proceeds of crime,' Kennedy said. 'Criminals are driven by greed at the expense of honest Australians and businesses who are losing their hard-earned money to cyber criminals. 'The profits derived from criminal activities are also often used to fund further criminal acts, which is why the AFP works closely with our partners in the CACT to target the proceeds of crime and ensure they are re-invested in the community.' Court documents show Duffy made more than $32,000 in 2013 by selling access to inactive League of Legends accounts. He also hacked the Twitter account of Riot Games president Marc Merrill to promote his operation and allegedly teamed up with another hacker to disconnect players during matches. Duffy sent threatening emails to the company, which reported financial losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. He pleaded guilty in Brisbane District Court in 2016 and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail, to be served on immediate parole. His lawyer told the court the self-taught hacker had autism and had a difficult childhood.
The Age
17-05-2025
- The Age
Qld man's waterfront mansion seized by police amid Bitcoin probe
Assets worth $4.5 million, including a waterfront mansion, Bitcoin, and a luxury car, have been seized in relation to a Queensland man previously convicted of hacking a US gaming giant. After a years-long Australian Federal Police investigation, the District Court last month ordered the assets be forfeited to the Commonwealth. The AFP launched Operation Gouldian in 2018 after it was contacted by authorities in Luxembourg regarding suspicious Bitcoin transactions linked to Queensland man Shane Stephen Duffy. Police then identified suspected links between Duffy and the theft of 950 Bitcoin from a French cryptocurrency exchange in 2013. However, the AFP said no criminal charges eventuated. In 2016, Duffy pleaded guilty to several offences, including fraud and computer hacking, with the District Court in Brisbane hearing he made just over $32,000 in 2013 for selling the details of inactive player accounts for the online game League of Legends, which is produced by LA-based developer Riot Games. Loading At the time, Duffy was described in reports as a homeschooled Queensland computer whiz. During his sentencing, his defence barrister said the offences were committed at a time when Duffy was still traumatised by the loss of his father and was withdrawing from the outside world. Under Commonwealth law, federal police are allowed to seize suspected proceeds of crime, even if a criminal prosecution does not go through. The AFP obtained restraining orders over the assets, which included a waterfront Moreton Bay home at Beachmere, a 2019 black Mercedes-Benz, and 24.99 Bitcoin. The AFP said they were seized on the basis 'it was reasonable to suspect they were the proceeds of crime, noting they were not commensurate with identifiable legitimate earnings'.
Sydney Morning Herald
17-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Qld man's waterfront mansion seized by police amid Bitcoin probe
Assets worth $4.5 million, including a waterfront mansion, Bitcoin, and a luxury car, have been seized in relation to a Queensland man previously convicted of hacking a US gaming giant. After a years-long Australian Federal Police investigation, the District Court last month ordered the assets be forfeited to the Commonwealth. The AFP launched Operation Gouldian in 2018 after it was contacted by authorities in Luxembourg regarding suspicious Bitcoin transactions linked to Queensland man Shane Stephen Duffy. Police then identified suspected links between Duffy and the theft of 950 Bitcoin from a French cryptocurrency exchange in 2013. However, the AFP said no criminal charges eventuated. In 2016, Duffy pleaded guilty to several offences, including fraud and computer hacking, with the District Court in Brisbane hearing he made just over $32,000 in 2013 for selling the details of inactive player accounts for the online game League of Legends, which is produced by LA-based developer Riot Games. Loading At the time, Duffy was described in reports as a homeschooled Queensland computer whiz. During his sentencing, his defence barrister said the offences were committed at a time when Duffy was still traumatised by the loss of his father and was withdrawing from the outside world. Under Commonwealth law, federal police are allowed to seize suspected proceeds of crime, even if a criminal prosecution does not go through. The AFP obtained restraining orders over the assets, which included a waterfront Moreton Bay home at Beachmere, a 2019 black Mercedes-Benz, and 24.99 Bitcoin. The AFP said they were seized on the basis 'it was reasonable to suspect they were the proceeds of crime, noting they were not commensurate with identifiable legitimate earnings'.
