Elderly Crypto Whale "HEX 19" Loses $4.5 Million in Slow-Moving Hack Linked to Konpyl Cyberattack

An elderly member of the crypto community, known as "HEX 19," experienced a loss of approximately $4.5 million due to a prolonged hack that slowly depleted their staked HEX tokens over multiple years. Initially mistaken for a large investor cashing out, it was later revealed that the individual had been targeted by a significant exploit. The cyberattack, which commenced in November 2021 and was attributed to an entity named "Konpyl," not only affected the token's value but also exposed links to fraudulent activities such as the Inferno Drainer and the fake Rabby wallet scam. The investigation into the HEX19 hack uncovered a network of wallets connected to phishing schemes, wallet draining, and money laundering operations, all associated with the same threat actor, Konpyl.

The stolen funds were transferred to various addresses where they currently remain. The HH2 wallet appears to play a central role in the laundering process, having sent more than $1 million to Tornado Cash between December 2021 and March 2022. Additionally, HH2 transferred $106,758 in DAI to an intermediary wallet, which was used for transactions on DeFi platforms like 1inch. The laundering activities of HH2 intersect with high-risk wallets flagged for suspicious behavior. On May 16, 2024, a third wallet, HH3, began withdrawing funds from the compromised HEX19 address. HH3 is linked to an address previously investigated for fraudulent activities. Another wallet, HEX Hacker 4 (HH4), started siphoning funds from the HEX19 wallet on Jan. 12, 2024. Lessons learned from the HEX19 Hack include the victim reporting the incident to the police and the remaining staked funds becoming potential liabilities. Cointelegraph identified over 180 suspicious transactions totaling more than $4.5 million between November 2021 and October 2024. Despite the setback, HEX19 remains composed and highlights the significance of family and life beyond financial matters.