Pair accused of using social media to steal cryptocurrency | Local News

BOSTON — A Rockport and a Brockton man were taken into custody Thursday by federal officers and charged with “conducting an extensive scheme to take over victims’ social media accounts and steal their cryptocurrency.

Declan Harrington, 20, of Rockport, and Eric Meiggs, 21, of Brockton, using techniques such as “SIM swapping,” computer hacking and other methods to gain access to high-value accounts so they could obtain primarily cryptocurrency.

They were indicted on one count of conspiracy, eight counts of wire fraud, one count of computer fraud and abuse and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The two were arrested Wednesday and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

Harrington and Meiggs allegedly targeted executives of cryptocurrency companies, and others, who likely had significant amounts of…