FREE THE MIND, FREE THE CONSCIOUSNESS
Ellis Pinsky, a 15-year-old hacker, executed a $24 million crypto heist using advanced techniques like SIM swapping and SQL injections. Despite his criminal activities, he was never charged, largely due to his age. After the incident, he pursued a degree in Computer Science and Philosophy and now works in software development and cybersecurity.
Ellis Pinsky was just 15 years old when he orchestrated a staggering $24 million crypto heist. For him, the experience felt akin to playing a video game, a hobby he cherished while growing up in the suburbs of New York City. This blog post delves into the intricate details of Ellis’s journey from a curious teenager to a notorious hacker, exploring the methods he employed and the aftermath of his actions.
HI-TECH CRIME HISTORY: The Teen Who Stole $24 Million and Never Faced Charges
The Beginning of a Hacker
Ellis’s foray into hacking began during a gaming session when a fellow player taunted him with a personal remark about his hometown, Irvington. This incident piqued his curiosity about online privacy and security. He discovered a free program called Wireshark, which allowed him to sniff out incoming network connections and identify IP addresses. A simple Google search could reveal the approximate location of these addresses. As he recounted to Rolling Stone, this realization empowered him: “Wow, I’m this little kid, but I can really wield this power.”
Mentorship and Learning
Over the following months, Ellis was mentored by a fellow gamer named Ferno, who taught him how to track down personal information online. In exchange for this knowledge, Ellis provided Ferno with sensitive data, including addresses and social security numbers. Through Ferno, he learned about ISP doxxing, a form of social engineering that involved impersonating IT support to extract confidential information from employees.
The Rise of a Skilled Hacker
As Ellis honed his hacking skills, he began to exploit them for profit. He learned about the OGUsers forum, where young hackers shared techniques for stealing coveted social media handles. Ellis quickly became adept at this, able to steal usernames in mere minutes. His classmates at Irvington High remained oblivious to his double life, viewing him merely as a tech-savvy student.
Advanced Techniques
Ellis’s skills expanded as he taught himself programming, focusing on SQL injections—exploiting vulnerabilities in websites to retrieve unauthorized data. His hacking journey took a significant turn when he encountered the concept of SIM swapping, a technique that involved convincing wireless carrier employees to switch a target’s SIM card to a phone controlled by the hacker. This allowed Ellis to intercept two-factor authentication codes sent to the target’s phone.
The $24 Million Heist
In 2018, a member of the OGUsers community, known as Harry, approached Ellis with a request to hack into the phone of Michael Terpin, a prominent figure in the crypto world. On January 7, 2018, Ellis executed the plan, instructing his contact at AT&T to port Terpin’s SIM card to a different phone. After gaining access to Terpin’s email accounts, they discovered a file containing keys to digital wallets.
The Discovery of Wealth
Among the wallets, Ellis found one containing approximately 3 million coins of a currency called Triggers, valued at over $7 per coin. This discovery amounted to a staggering $24 million, marking one of the largest SIM-swapping hacks in history. However, Ellis faced challenges in laundering the coins due to transaction limits on exchanges. He enlisted the help of acquaintances to convert the Triggers into Bitcoin, offering them a cut of the profits.
The Downfall
Despite his initial success, Ellis’s operation unraveled when one of his accomplices, Nick Truglia, grew greedy and stole $1 million worth of crypto. Nick’s lavish lifestyle drew the attention of law enforcement, leading to his arrest. During the investigation, connections between Nick and Ellis were uncovered, prompting scrutiny of Ellis’s involvement in the heist.
Legal Consequences
On December 3, 2018, Ellis’s mother received an email from Terpin’s lawyer accusing her son of masterminding the $24 million theft. In response, Ellis returned all his assets, including 562 Bitcoins, a luxury watch, and cash. However, the value of the Bitcoin had significantly depreciated by that time.
Reflection and Redemption
As Ellis approached graduation, he faced notoriety due to his past exploits. He reflected on his actions, expressing remorse for the impact of his hacking on others. Despite Terpin’s desire for criminal charges, Ellis was never arrested, likely due to his age and the complexities surrounding cryptocurrency crimes.
A New Path
Ellis went on to attend NYU, majoring in Computer Science and Philosophy, graduating in May 2024. He has since started a software development company aimed at helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into apps and software. Ironically, he now seeks to work in cybersecurity, using his skills to protect against the very hacks he once perpetrated.
Conclusion
Ellis Pinsky’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of hacking and the blurred lines between youthful curiosity and criminality. As he moves forward, his journey highlights the importance of accountability and the possibility of redemption in the digital age.
FAST FORWARD EARLIER THIS YEAR UPDATE
The Midnight Heist That Shook Crypto
One January night in 2018, millionaire crypto founder Michael Turpin checked his accounts and discovered $24 million had vanished. Across the country, a group of teens had hijacked his phone number, infiltrated his emails, and drained his cryptocurrency wallets. The mastermind? Ellis Pinsky, a 15-year-old from New York who’d honed his skills on gaming forums.
By dawn, Pinsky controlled 562 bitcoins. He hid $100,000 in cash under his bed and bought a luxury watch. But his victory was short-lived. Within months, the FBI tracked his digital footprints, masked gunmen stormed his home, and a $22 million lawsuit loomed.
From Gamer to Cyber Criminal
Pinsky’s journey began in a cramped Manhattan apartment. At 13, he traded chess trophies for Xbox battles, mastering Call of Duty and online trash-talking. A chilling question from a rival gamer, “How’s the weather in Irvington?” sparked his obsession with hacking.
Using tools like Wireshark, he learnt to trace IP addresses. By 14, he’d joined OGUsers, a forum for trading stolen social media accounts. “I wanted power,” he later admitted. But rare Instagram handles bored him. Soon, he pivoted to SIM swapping, a scam that would net millions.
Anatomy of a SIM Swap Scam
SIM swapping exploits a simple weakness: human trust. Hackers bribe telecom employees to transfer a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card. Suddenly, they control texts, two-factor authentication codes, and password resets.
Pinsky’s team scripted this process. They scraped Turpin’s emails for crypto wallet keys, stumbling on a $900 million Ethereum cache password-protected. Undeterred, they syphoned $24 million from a less-secured account. “It felt like a game,” Pinsky said. “Until it wasn’t.”
A Lavish Lifestyle Unravels
Flush with stolen crypto, Pinsky splurged on Rolexes, private jets, and VIP nights at New York clubs. At the same time, accomplices turned on each other. One fled with $1.5 million; another plotted a hitman.
But carelessness doomed them. A co-conspirator, Nick Truglia, flaunted wealth on social media, posting, “Stole $24M. Still can’t keep a friend” and used his real name on Coinbase. By 2020, Truglia faced prison. Pinsky, a minor, returned most funds but dodged charges. Turpin wasn’t satisfied.
Legal Reckoning and Lingering Threats
In May 2020, four masked men broke into Pinsky’s suburban home, demanding crypto. He barricaded his brothers upstairs, clutching a shotgun. “I knew why they came,” he recalled. The invaders found only his mother’s Ugg boots in the safe.
Turpin’s lawsuit escalated, seeking $71 million under racketeering laws. “These kids think it’s a game,” Turpin fumed. Pinsky’s defence? Cooperation. He surrendered assets, but crashing crypto values left Turpin with pennies on the dollar.
Seeking Redemption in Code and Philosophy
Today, Pinsky studies computer science and philosophy at NYU. He avoids his hometown, where whispers of “Baby Al Capone” linger. “I’d run from my 15-year-old self,” he admits.
He codes apps like Rentr, a peer-to-peer rental platform, and eyes startups. “I want to add value now,” he says. Yet shadows remain: lawsuits, surveillance fears, and the guilt of endangering his family. “Shame isn’t useful,” he reflects. “But accountability is.”
Epilogue: A Hacker’s Second Act
Pinsky’s story mirrors crypto’s wild volatility, a meteoric rise and brutal crash. Once driven by ego, he now seeks anonymity. “I’m done with that life,” he insists. Whether the world agrees hinges on his next move: innovator or cautionary tale. For now, he’s just a student with a shotgun-sized secret and a debt he may never outrun.
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