URL of Scam: mempool.space

Type of Scam: Romance and Investment Scam
Amount Loss: $29,967.00

Description:
The victim was deceived by someone who posed as a romantic partner, leading to a relationship where the scammer promised to marry the victim. After building trust, the scammer convinced the victim to send substantial amounts of Bitcoin, totaling approximately $30,000. The victim was led to believe that the scammer would be visiting and even provided a passport photo as part of the false persona. The victim later realized they had been scammed, but by that time, their money had been transferred to multiple cryptocurrency addresses. The scammer used emotional manipulation to exploit the victim’s trust.

Cryptocurrency Addresses Used:

Wallet Address 1: 3EKA67c5QWojXSU39tQZTpT7qhDTutZxs9
Wallet Address 2: 3JgLTbsxmCWJ9Z2qWPGhnQPzeKasStCNjT
Wallet Address 3: 3AWcBTNdPWSz36DUbB4e7xM7ZPqH6rHexz
Wallet Address 4: 3JgLTbsxmCWJ9Z2qWPGhnQPzeKasStCNjT (duplicate)

Open-Source Intelligence Analysis:Key Details of Mempool.Space Scam

Current Website & Platform Details:
The website mempool.space is a legitimate open-source blockchain explorer used to view the Bitcoin network’s transaction data. It is not directly related to the scam but may have been falsely associated with the fraudulent activities of the scammer. Scammers often use reputable platforms or names to establish trust with their victims. In this case, it’s likely that the scammer used a different platform or persona associated with cryptocurrency transactions but referenced mempool.space to appear more credible.

Domain and Hosting Information:

Domain Name: mempool.space
Registrar: Namecheap
Registration Details:Registered On: October 2, 2018
Expires On: October 2, 2029
Updated On: February 22, 2024
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Nameservers:ns1.fra.wiz.biz
ns2.fra.wiz.biz
ns1.tk7.wiz.biz
ns2.tk7.wiz.biz
ns1.va1.wiz.biz
ns2.va1.wiz.biz

The mempool.space domain itself appears legitimate, being registered with Namecheap. However, the scammer likely used this name or similar-looking services to manipulate the victim. The domain’s nameservers point to hosting providers that may be used for a range of websites, including malicious or fraudulent ones.

Key Observations:

Romance Scam Tactics: The scammer initially built an emotional relationship with the victim, convincing them to trust the scammer and eventually send large sums of money in the form of Bitcoin. This type of scam often manipulates victims by creating fake personas online.
Cryptocurrency Transactions: The victim’s Bitcoin was transferred to several addresses, making it more difficult to trace or recover the funds.
No Actual Marriage Plans: The scammer created an illusion of a relationship and promised marriage, exploiting the victim’s emotions to gain access to significant amounts of money.

Recommendations:
Blockchain Analysis: Investigating the cryptocurrency addresses involved (e.g., 3EKA67c5QWojXSU39tQZTpT7qhDTutZxs9) could potentially uncover additional victims or provide insights into where the funds were sent.
File a Complaint: Report the scam to the appropriate authorities, including financial regulatory bodies and cryptocurrency exchanges. If the funds have been moved through centralized exchanges, they may be traceable.
Monitor the Domain: Although mempool.space is a legitimate service, it is worth monitoring in case the scammer uses the name again or if other similar sites pop up under different aliases.
Consumer Awareness: Educate others about the risks of online romance scams, which typically involve promises of marriage and financial gain, followed by requests for money transfers.

Conclusion:
The scam involving mempool.space is a typical romance scam where the victim was emotionally manipulated into transferring Bitcoin to the scammer under the false belief that a marriage was imminent. After the victim sent a total of $29,967 worth of Bitcoin, they realized that they had been scammed, but by then, the funds had already been moved. The domain mempool.space, although not directly involved, may have been used as a part of the scammer’s false claims to appear credible. Cryptocurrency transactions are challenging to reverse, but further investigation into the wallet addresses could help trace the funds and identify the perpetrators.