South Korean Tax Agency’s Exposed Wallet Seed Linked to Reported $4.8M Crypto Theft
Summary
South Korea’s National Tax Service reportedly exposed a seized Ledger wallet’s recovery phrase in release photos. About 4 million PRTG tokens, valued at $4.4–4.8 million, were then transferred; recovery status is unclear.
Key points
- Photos released by South Korea’s National Tax Service showed the handwritten recovery phrase for a seized Ledger wallet.
- About 4 million PRTG tokens, valued at roughly $4.4–4.8 million at the time, were reportedly transferred from the confiscated wallet.
- Korean media cited on-chain analysis indicating the attacker funded the wallet with ETH for transaction fees before moving the tokens in three transactions.
- The wallet was seized during raids on 124 high-value tax evaders, which confiscated digital assets worth 8.1 billion won.
- The tax agency removed the press release; the article says it was unclear whether the funds had been recovered or an investigation had begun.
- The article advises moving funds to a new wallet promptly if a recovery phrase is exposed.
Article Details
- Victim Organization
- National Tax Service
- Incident Type
- Exposure of a seized cryptocurrency wallet’s handwritten recovery phrase, followed by unauthorized transfer of its assets
- Data Types Exposed
- Cryptocurrency wallet recovery phrase
- Cryptocurrency assets
- Affected Records
- One confiscated wallet
- Affected Data Size
- Approximately 4 million Pre-Retogeum (PRTG) tokens, valued at about $4.4–4.8 million at the time
- Operational Impact
- The wallet’s recovery phrase appeared in photos released by the agency. Korean media reportedly cited on-chain analysis showing the tokens transferred out in three transactions; whether the funds were recovered is unclear.
- Ransom Or Extortion
- Unknown
- Claim Status
- confirmed