UK scammer steals $650,000 from over 250 Twitter users

A UK-based scammer, operating under the Twitter handles @ape_31 and @60711, has stolen more than $650,000 from over 250 unsuspecting users on Twitter (X) in the past year.

Investigations from blockchain detective ZachXBT show that the fraudster baited victims by posting fake profit and loss (PNL) screenshots from a Bybit demo account and used a fake news account to funnel victims into paying for bogus services.

Once the scammer received payment, they immediately blocked their victims, cutting off all contact.

Ape 31 targeted users by replying to large accounts and regularly posted PNL screenshots to fake engagement.

The scam involved offering paid copy trading services, where users were tricked into paying fees between $250 and $500.

After receiving payment, the scammer would ask for additional funds under the guise of managing them, claiming that the process was risk-free.

Victims were blocked on both Telegram and Twitter once they had sent their money.

Victims lured with fake trades and scams

One victim paid $500 to Ape 31 for a copy trade service. After that, Ape 31 demanded $20,000, promising to trade with “zero liquidation price” on their behalf.

The victim sent the requested amount to Ape 31’s wallet address. To make it look legitimate, the scammer provided the victim with an API key to monitor the supposed trades. 

But everything was fake. Ape 31 then pressured the victim into sending another $20,000, claiming the profits couldn’t be claimed until the extra money was sent.

After this of course, the victim was blocked, and all communication ceased.

In another case, a victim who sent $3,000 was led to believe their investment would grow from $10,000 to $100,000 in a matter of days. This victim was also ghosted after transferring the funds.

In a third case, a victim reported losing $500. This person managed to gather more intel on the scammer, sharing that Ape 31 logged into a TradingView account with a UK Telecom IP address (81.78.179.107).

The scammer, who frequently rotates deposit addresses, has used over 16 different wallets.

According to Zach, these addresses have received over $650,000 in just one year, and it is likely that even more funds have been stolen.

Multiple attempts and fake identities

Ape 31 also attempted to con another person with a fake over-the-counter (OTC) deal. They convinced the target to join a video call, which was later recorded.

The victim confirmed that the voice in the recording matched the scammer’s. The details of this conversation, as well as the recording, were made public by Zach.

His investigation shows a long list of centralized exchanges the scammer used, including KuCoin, Kraken, Bitget, OKX, MEXC, and Poloniex.

Zach also found out that Ape 31 is actually based in the UK, not Singapore as he claims. Their IP address, 81.78.179.107, is registered in Ealing under Vodafone Limited.

Ape 31 also used a UK-based phone number, +44-7466-727122. The scammer has changed name and location multiple times to mislead their victims and cover their tracks.

At various points, they’ve used the name Omar and pretended to be based in Singapore. On Twitter, Ape 31 has used several usernames, including apethirtyone, apenumeral, and ape31111.

On Telegram, the scammer runs a channel called CHLMPS, where they continue to target new victims. Their current Telegram username is APE131, though they’ve previously used names like APE313, APE3331, FD_331, and FD3_D.

Right after Zach made his post though, all the Twitter accounts were deactivated.