Singapore Police Report $3.5M Losses From Tampered Ledger Wallets
Police said malicious components in some Ledger wallets could capture recovery phrases and let thieves drain crypto accounts.
- On Wednesday, the Singapore Police Force announced an investigation into tampered Ledger hardware wallets purchased at local retail stores, with preliminary findings confirming malicious components installed in devices that resulted in about $3.5 million in losses.
- Ledger's Donjon security team discovered that unauthorized components capture 24-word recovery phrases during wallet setup and transmit the information to attackers through an LTE cellular connection, enabling unauthorized access to cryptocurrency assets.
- Compromised units were identified at Metapod at Changi Airport and Challenger at VivoCity, with broader regional concerns involving devices distributed through reseller CryptoBilis across Southeast Asia.
- Police advised the public never to disclose private keys or recovery phrases and urged caution when transacting cryptocurrencies. Members of the public may contact the 24-hour ScamShield Helpline at 1799 for assistance.
- Rival manufacturer Keystone recently disclosed an authentication key breach affecting 25,964 customers, forcing destruction of 18,835 hardware wallets. Previously, Ledger suspended shipments across Southeast Asia after discovering tampering in its distribution channels.
25 Articles
25 Articles
Tampered Ledger Reported In Singapore A Month Before News Broke: Asia Express
Tampered Ledger wallets cost Singapore users $2.7M: Police Singapore police say at least two cases involving tampered Ledger hardware wallets have been reported since Sept. 10, with combined losses of about 3.5 million Singapore dollars ($2.7 million). It places the first local report almost a month before the wider incident became public. It’s not clear […]
Ledger Investigates Fund Losses Tied to Southeast Asian Reseller After Implant Found in Device
Ledger has reassured users after people who bought signing devices from a Malaysia-based reseller reported losing funds. Ledger has said it is working with authorities after users last week reported losing funds and one received a tampered device. But the company reassured customers that the number of impacted products was […]
Singapore police report $3.5M losses from tampered Ledger wallets
Cryptocurrency users in Singapore have lost approximately S$3.5 million after purchasing tampered Ledger hardware wallets from local retailers, prompting a police investigation into devices containing malicious components. According to an October 28 advisory from the Singapore Police Force, at least…
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