A musician says he lost his entire Bitcoin savings after downloading what turned out to be a fake Ledger app from Apple’s App Store. The incident reportedly wiped out 5.9 BTC in minutes, funds he had planned to use for retirement.
Garrett Dutton, known as the frontman of G. Love & Special Sauce, shared that he installed what looked like the official Ledger application on a new computer. After entering his recovery phrase during setup, the wallet was immediately emptied. He later said all of his Bitcoin was gone, while other holdings remained untouched.
A Simple Trick With Serious Consequences
The scam didn’t involve breaking any hardware security. Instead, it relied on a common tactic: convincing the user to reveal their seed phrase. Once that information is entered into a malicious app, attackers can instantly access and move the funds.
These types of attacks often succeed because they mimic trusted interfaces, especially during device setup when users are more likely to act quickly. In this case, the presence of the app on Apple’s App Store likely added a sense of legitimacy.
Funds Moved Through Exchange Addresses
Onchain investigator ZachXBT said the stolen Bitcoin was routed through deposit addresses linked to KuCoin across nine transactions. Moving funds through exchanges in multiple steps is a common method used to obscure the trail.
The incident highlights a familiar warning for Ledger users: legitimate wallet providers never ask for a recovery phrase during app setup or updates. Once shared, control of the Bitcoin is effectively handed over, and recovery becomes extremely unlikely.
Disclaimer: This content does not constitute trading or investment recommendations. It’s essential to conduct your own research before purchasing any cryptocurrency or investing in any services.
