Cunning criminals insert chip into gadget to plunder bank accounts: Coolblue and Bol take action
Dutch retailers such as Coolblue and Bol.com have suspended the sale of Ledger cryptowallets after criminals tampered with the devices by installing hidden chips to steal cryptocurrency. Although manufacturers confirm the tampering happened after production, retailers are taking precautionary measures to protect customers, even in the absence of local incident reports.
Major Dutch retailers, including Coolblue, Bol.com, MediaMarkt, and Amac, have halted the sale of Ledger cryptowallets following a sophisticated tampering scheme. Criminal organizations purchased original devices, modified them with custom-built chips designed to intercept users' recovery phrases, and subsequently resold them in markets across Southeast Asia and Hong Kong. This elaborate operation, which reportedly involved millions of dollars in infrastructure, led to the theft of over 102 million dollars in cryptocurrency. While manufacturer Ledger confirmed that the tampering occurred post-production, they launched a massive internal investigation to prevent further incidents. Although the Dutch retailers state they have received no specific complaints or reports of tampered devices within their own stock, they have removed the wallets from their shelves as a precautionary measure to ensure customer safety. Ledger has since implemented stricter security protocols, including bans on the resale of returned units and new guidelines for physical retail displays.
Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.
