AMA on r/Cryptocurrency with the U.S. Secret Service and REACT Task Force – May 15th, 11am PT

Greetings r/Cryptocurrency, we are with the U.S. Secret Service’s San Francisco Field Office and the Bay Area Regional Enforcement Allied Computer Team, better known as REACT.

You probably know the Secret Service protects the leaders of the United States, but did you know we’re also responsible for safeguarding the nation’s financial infrastructure? In today’s world, that often involves the world of cryptocurrency.

Here in San Francisco, we have a squad dedicated to keeping cryptocurrency and its users safe. We are comprised of Special Agents and Analysts who have embraced the future of money, and we’re eager to share our work with this cryptocurrency community and provide resources and education to help keep your money safe. We’re also eager to learn from you.

Here are a few resources to learn more about what the Secret Service does:

  • Secret Service – Cyber Investigations
  • Secret Service: Safeguarding the Next Generation Currency (YouTube)

The REACT Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional team focused on the investigation of high-tech crimes. REACT works to disrupt criminal networks, identify emerging threats, and assist on cases requiring specialized expertise. In the past 12 months, our team has investigated “Pig Butchering” cryptocurrency thefts and we have recovered millions in stolen funds. We want to share resources and tips on how to protect potential victims from cryptocurrency scammers.

Here are a few resources to learn more about what REACT does:

  • How Pig Butchering Works
  • Operation Shamrock
  • South Bay Tech Crime Team Aids Bust in Big Bitcoin Theft

Here are some recent cases the USSS and REACT have been involved in:

  • Three Individuals Charged for Alleged Roles in Twitter Hack
  • Cryptocurrency Scam Victim Gets $100k Back
  • Alleged Russian Cryptocurrency Money Launderer Extradited to United States
  • Ten Hackers Arrested for String of SIM-Swapping Attacks Against Celebrities
  • Court Authorized the Seizure of Domains Used in Furtherance of Pig Butchering Schemes
  • Bitcoin of America

You can expect to see these two accounts on this thread:

  • /u/SF-USSS – U.S. Secret Service | Digital Asset Technology Alliance | San Francisco
  • /u/REACT-TF – REACT Task Force | Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office

Verification: https://i.imgur.com/7k4VIMD.jpg

We’ll be here answering questions on May 15th from 11am PT until 1pm PT. Please feel free to submit questions in advance, and we’ll do our best to answer as many as possible.

Do you want to put your passion for cryptocurrency or cybersecurity to good use? We’re looking to hire 450 Special Agents this year. For more information visit www.secretservice.gov/join

Related news:

No related news.

50 thoughts on “AMA on r/Cryptocurrency with the U.S. Secret Service and REACT Task Force – May 15th, 11am PT”

  1. Very much appreciated for this AMA.

    What is the toughest case to crack so far for the team?

  3. >How Pig Butchering Works

    I think some r/cc users are experts at it… Because of first hand experience.

  4. What skills do their employees need to have, i.e. what do they need to have studied? Do they tend to be younger people or many with experience?

  5. >We are comprised of Special Agents and Analysts who have embraced the future of money

    ♥️♥️♥️

  6. >We are comprised of Special Agents and Analysts who have embraced the future of money

    How many of you, approximately, are “Bitcoin maximalists”?

  7. they’re supposed to be the REAL Secret Service?? also, they’re genuinely trying to recruit 400+ agents..from within the Cryptocurrency sub-Reddit??

    and look, I do know they have a money department, that much is true..but that lady is covering her face!🫣 so, just looks odd..and I’m actually from a law enforcement family so, no issue with legitimate authority.

    but aside from them breaking down our doors and brandishing badges [which, frankly, I wouldn’t know a real one of those if I saw one🥺] how can we know they’re the official real agency posting??😯🧚🏾‍♀️

  9. Whats the best way to prevent a SIM swap attack in a cell phone. Is there any way to truly lock the SIM from being duplicated?

    The going theory is to put a PIN lock on the SIM, but I believe the PIN is device specific and that wouldn’t stop social engineering at the carrier level to still duplicate it.

  10. Are you personally holding any cryptocurrencies ?
    If you are, how big is your portfolio in %?

    How often do you have to ELI5 to your superiors ?

  11. Might be the wrong word considering what you do but, what has impressed you the most?

  12. As the US dollar continues to collapse, will crypto soon be considered a “threat to financial security” and you will be part of the effort to imprison cryptocurrency holders in the US?

  13. If something fishy is going on but it’s out of your jurisdiction (aka USA) do you cooperate with other countries/exchanges ?

  14. I would like to advance the strategic interests of my country, but I have a relatively cushy private sector job and I don’t like being bossed around at the level you’d see in the military or something.

    Is there some way I can help out mostly for fun? Like, something where i wouldn’t have to give up my life and freedom? Should I take some skill / knowledge test? An interview? Not sure how useful I’d be, but I’d be happy to take a shot at it and see it I can be helpful.

  16. Do u keep an eye on Instagram influencers who are scamming their audience using crypto?

  17. What’s the secret service role in deployment/managing of central bank digital currency?

  18. What are your thoughts about how to handle all of those “street scammers” on social media?

  20. How much is the price of “Stay out of jail” fee that people lile SBF, Elon Musk, etc pay? I want to be a criminal but with protection.

  21. >We’re looking to hire 450 Special Agents this year. For more information visit www.secretservice.gov/join

    How much are you guys paying? And will you pay me in bitcoin?

    Actually scrap that I bet I need to be a US citizen, that rules me out

  22. i thought this was a joke lol! this is so interesting,

    what do you do to rich influencers that promote scam coins? ex: Logan paul or kim kardashian.

  23. Why are you called the Secret Service if everybody knows that the Secret Service exists?

  25. Is there a Secret Service taskforce dedicated to taking down cryptocurrencies/exchanges based in San Francisco as well or is that classified?

    I know there’s an emphasis on protection, does that also mean protecting us from certain networks that the US Government currently deems a threat to the US Dollar?

  33. What do you do with the crypto you recover?

    Sell, hold, give to another agency?

  34. Is it true the secret service has picked up and interviewed the BTC CEO? Fr tho hire me and I’ll give you all the info.

  35. are you keeping an eye on hot girl in my DM? she is offering to double my bitcoins

  39. Hi, I understand that the cooperation with the European agencies is somehow good but how is it with the Russian and the Chinese ones? Is there any communication at all when it comes to cyber crime?

  40. I think it’s awesome that they take time for us lowly plebs and degens, maybe we can pull them down into the abyss with us. 🤫

  43. >You probably know the Secret Service protects the leaders of the United States, but did you know we’re also responsible for safeguarding the nation’s financial infrastructure?

    What steps are you taking to prevent the debasement of an incoming US CBDC? aka Slavecoin.

  45. Could you help out a bit, see after all the infighting in Sudan I can’t get ether and bitcoin out anymore. I just need to pay 5 bitcoin to a gorbment official to git back my 69 bitcoin and 420ethe. 🥺

  47. What are your views on the financial structure in the US currently and how cryptocurrency relates in any way?

    Do you believe cryptocurrency integration could provide certain benefits when reasonably used, considering what appears to be destructive politics towards cryptocurrency at the current time?

  48. I recently won 8500 usd in dogecoin in facebook giveaway.

    Who has a bigger chance of getting the money (8500 and undisclosed)?

    Me or the the giveway “giver”?

  49. Does the secret service find anything useful about cryptocurrencies? If so how do you feel it could benefit society?

  50. I have heard that many exchanges like Coinbase have a list of wallets owned by known bad actors in order to disallow users to send crypto to those wallets. Does REACT work with exchanges to help identify these wallets owned by bad actors?

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