SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A man accused of posing as an Uber driver allegedly stole more than $290,000 in cryptocurrency from victims he picked up at the W Hotel in Scottsdale.
On March 31, 2024, Nuruhessin Hussein called out the name of a person who was waiting for an Uber ride, and the victim got in the vehicle. It’s unclear how Hussein knew the victim’s name at the time. According to court documents, Hussein allegedly asked to use the victim’s phone for directions, stating that his phone had just died. The victim gave Hussein his phone, and unknown to the victim, Hussein transferred approximately $97,000 (the value at the time of his arrest) in cryptocurrency to himself.
The victim said that at one point, he asked for his phone back and Hussein told him to “chill out.”
The victim could also allegedly see a gun in the center console of the vehicle and said he felt threatened by Hussein. The victim was eventually dropped off from his ride and later noticed the transfer and contacted police.