Yahya Maghrab

Key Points

• Cybercrime Involvement: Yahya Maghrab, a Canadian, is implicated in over 17 SIM swap attacks, resulting in $4.5 million in stolen cryptocurrency, as uncovered by crypto sleuth ZachXBT in 2023.

• Professional Background: Previously a social media manager and contributor to Benzinga and Youth Ki Awaaz, Maghrab also claims to be an entrepreneur with a social media agency, boasting a network of over 500 million connections.

• Scamming Role: Maghrab facilitated SIM swap attacks by conducting lookups on X/Twitter accounts, helping scammers identify targets, and profited significantly from these activities.

• No Legal Convictions: Despite his alleged involvement in cybercrime, no lawsuits or convictions are documented against Maghrab as of May 15, 2025.

• Identity Concerns: Discrepancies in Maghrab’s claimed locations (Miami, Florida, and India) and activities raise questions about his true identity and operations.

Overview

Yahya Maghrab, born on April 27, 2007, is a Canadian individual who has been publicly identified as a  involved in SIM swap attacks, as detailed in a 2023 investigation by ZachXBT. Maghrab allegedly played a key role in over 17 SIM swap attacks, which resulted in the theft of more than $4.5 million in cryptocurrency. His role involved conducting lookups on X/Twitter accounts to identify potential US targets for scammers, such as Skenkir, by revealing phone numbers linked to accounts. Beyond his criminal activities, Maghrab claims to be an entrepreneur who owned a social media agency and PR firm, asserting a network of over 500 million social media connections and generating over 1 billion views across platforms. He has also contributed as a journalist for Benzinga, covering cryptocurrency topics, and written for Youth Ki Awaaz, an Indian platform, despite claiming to be based in Miami, Florida. Additionally, Maghrab has interests in music engineering and has spent thousands on luxury watches and unreleased music tracks.

Allegations and Concerns

• SIM Swap Attacks: Maghrab is accused of aiding scammers in 17+ SIM swap attacks between 2022 and 2023, targeting high-profile crypto holders like Bitboy Crypto ($950,000 loss) and PleasrDAO’s Jamis ($1.3 million loss), profiting $250,000 across four transactions.

• Deceptive Practices: In July 2023, Maghrab was involved in a scam where a victim, Amir, was tricked into paying for access to his lookup panel, exposing a wallet address tagged as Fake_Phishing183708 by ZachXBT.

• Identity Discrepancies: Maghrab’s claimed residence in Miami, Florida, conflicts with his contributions to Youth Ki Awaaz, an Indian platform, and his Canadian nationality, raising questions about his true identity or location.

• Association with Criminals: Worked with accomplices like Skenkir and HZ (Chase Senecal), the latter arrested by the FBI in 2023 for related phishing scams, indicating Maghrab’s ties to a broader cybercrime network.

• Lack of Transparency: Maghrab deleted his X account after ZachXBT’s investigation, and his current activities remain unclear, suggesting potential ongoing illicit behavior.

Customer Feedback

• No Direct Consumer Reviews: Maghrab’s activities primarily involve cybercrime and social media management, so no traditional customer reviews exist on platforms like Trustpilot.

• Victim Reports: Victims of SIM swap attacks facilitated by Maghrab report significant losses. A Coinlive article quotes a victim: “I was deceived into believing I was purchasing access to Yahya’s panel, only to lose thousands.”

• Professional Feedback: As a Benzinga contributor, Maghrab’s articles on cryptocurrency (e.g., Yuga Labs’ $450M funding) received neutral engagement, with no specific praise or criticism noted. His entrepreneurial claims of a 500 million-strong network lack verifiable testimonials.

• Negative Sentiment: The crypto community, via ZachXBT’s findings, views Maghrab negatively, with comments on X labeling him “a key enabler of SIM swap scams.”

Risk Considerations

• Financial Risks: Associating with Maghrab poses high financial risks due to his documented role in SIM swap attacks, which led to millions in stolen funds. Potential partners or clients risk being targeted by similar scams.

• Reputational Risks: Maghrab’s criminal history and association with scammers like HZ and Skenkir could severely damage the reputation of any business or individual linked to him.

• Legal Risks: While no lawsuits are confirmed, Maghrab’s involvement in cybercrime could lead to future investigations or charges under Canadian or US cybercrime laws, such as the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

• Cybersecurity Risks: His expertise in conducting lookups and facilitating hacks makes him a cybersecurity threat, potentially targeting associates for further attacks.

• Operational Risks: Maghrab’s lack of transparency and deleted online presence make it difficult to verify his current activities, increasing uncertainty for potential collaborators.

Business Relations and Associations

• Social Media Agency: Maghrab claims to have owned a social media agency and PR firm, but no specific company name or verifiable details are provided.

• Media Contributions: Previously a contributor to Benzinga (cryptocurrency articles) and Youth Ki Awaaz (Indian writing platform), though his accounts are now inactive.

• Criminal Associates: Worked with Skenkir on SIM swap attacks and HZ (Chase Senecal), who was arrested by the FBI in 2023 for phishing scams targeting Beeple and Nouns DAO.

• No Current Affiliations: No active business partnerships are documented post-2023, likely due to his exposure by ZachXBT and subsequent retreat from public platforms.

Legal and Financial Concerns

• No Lawsuits or Convictions: No lawsuits, unpaid debts, or bankruptcy records are directly tied to Maghrab as of May 15, 2025.

• Potential Legal Exposure: His role in SIM swap attacks could lead to future investigations by the FBI or Canadian authorities, especially given the arrest of his accomplice HZ.

• Financial Misconduct: Profited $250,000 from SIM swap attacks, with payments linked to a wallet tagged as Fake_Phishing183708, indicating illicit financial activity.

• Regulatory Scrutiny: His activities may attract attention under international cybercrime frameworks, such as those enforced by INTERPOL, though no actions are reported.

Risk Assessment Table

Expert Opinion

Yahya Maghrab’s profile reveals a duality between a claimed entrepreneurial persona and a documented . His involvement in SIM swap attacks, netting $4.5 million in stolen cryptocurrency, marks him as a significant threat in the crypto space, despite his young age. His past as a social media manager and contributor to Benzinga and Youth Ki Awaaz contrasts sharply with his criminal activities, suggesting either a deliberate pivot to illicit ventures or a fabricated public image to mask his true intentions. The lack of legal convictions does not diminish the severity of his actions, especially given the arrest of his accomplice HZ.

Pros:

• None, as his claimed entrepreneurial achievements are overshadowed by criminal behavior.

Cons:

• High risk of financial loss,
• reputational damage
• legal exposure due to cybercrime involvement.

Cautionary Advice: Avoid any interaction with Maghrab or entities claiming to be associated with him. Crypto holders should enable two-factor authentication and avoid linking phone numbers to social media accounts to prevent SIM swap attacks. Report suspicious activities to the FBI’s IC3 (ic3.gov) or INTERPOL. Verify any social media or PR services through trusted platforms before engagement.

Key Citations

• Cybercriminal Investigation: https://cybercriminal.com/investigation/yahya-maghrab