币界网报道：New York authorities have disrupted a Russian-language crypto scam targeting Brooklyn residents through fraudulent Facebook ads, seizing $140,000 in cryptocurrency and freezing an additional $300,000. The scheme involved over 700 Meta accounts promoting fake investment platforms like WhalesTrade.com, which impersonated licensed entities. Scammers lured victims via Russian-language ads featuring celebrities, directing them to WhatsApp and Telegram groups where they were pressured into investing. After victims deposited funds—sometimes hundreds of thousands—they were blocked from withdrawals under false pretenses of fees or taxes. Over 300 victims lost more than $1 million collectively. Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, NY AG Letitia James, and DFS Superintendent Adrienne Harris led the investigation, which began after detecting a spoofed BitLicense certificate. Meta terminated the accounts tied to the "Black Hat" advertising operation.