Two brothers, Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, and James Peraire-Bueno, 28, who went to MIT, have been arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency. The US Department of Justice says this is the first time something like this has happened. The brothers are accused of wire fraud and money laundering. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said the brothers planned this scheme for months and carried it out in just 12 seconds. The IRS helped uncover this fraud.

The brothers used their math and computer science skills from MIT to exploit Ethereum’s transaction process. They got into private transactions and changed them to steal people’s cryptocurrency. They did this in seconds. When Ethereum found out, the brothers didn’t give the money back and tried to hide it.

This is the first time someone has been charged with this kind of fraud. It makes people worry about the safety of the blockchain, which keeps track of cryptocurrency payments. If the brothers are found guilty, they could go to prison for more than 20 years. This shows how important it is to have good cybersecurity to protect against these kinds of schemes.

Original news source: US brothers allegedly stole $25m in 12 seconds (BBC)

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Have each pair read the article together and then summarize the main points in their own words. Afterward, have pairs share their summaries with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose 10 key vocabulary words from the article and write each word on a separate piece of paper. Divide the class into teams. Give each team one word and have them draw a picture that represents the word. The other teams must guess the word based on the drawing. The team that guesses the most words correctly wins.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the class the following question: “Do you think the brothers should go to prison for more than 20 years if found guilty?” Have students write down their opinions and then pair them up to discuss their reasons. Afterward, conduct a class poll by asking students to raise their hands to indicate their opinion. Record the results and have a class discussion about the different viewpoints.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups: one group representing the pros and one group representing the cons. Have each group brainstorm and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of cryptocurrency. Afterward, have a debate-style discussion where each group presents their arguments. Encourage students to use evidence from the article to support their points.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs, have students discuss and make predictions about the future of cryptocurrency and cybersecurity. They should consider the implications of the brothers’ actions and the potential impact on the industry. Afterward, have pairs share their predictions with the class and facilitate a discussion about the different possibilities.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the two brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency?
2. Where did the brothers go to school?
3. What are the brothers being charged with?
4. How long did it take the brothers to carry out their scheme?
5. Which government agency helped uncover the fraud?
6. How did the brothers use their skills from MIT to steal cryptocurrency?
7. What did the brothers do when Ethereum found out about their actions?
8. What are the potential consequences if the brothers are found guilty?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Two (1)______, Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, and James Peraire-Bueno, 28, who went to MIT, have been arrested for stealing $25 million in (2)______. The US (3)______ of (4)______ says this is the first time something like this has happened. The brothers are accused of wire fraud and money laundering. Deputy (5)______ General Lisa Monaco said the brothers planned this scheme for months and carried it out in just 12 seconds. The IRS helped (6)______ this (7)______.

The brothers used their math and computer science skills from MIT to exploit Ethereum’s (8)______ process. They got into private (9)______ and changed them to steal people’s cryptocurrency. They did this in (10)______. When Ethereum (11)______ out, the brothers didn’t give the money back and (12)______ to hide it.

This is the first time someone has been charged with this kind of fraud. It makes people (13)______ about the safety of the blockchain, which keeps track of cryptocurrency payments. If the brothers are found (14)______, they could go to prison for more than 20 years. This (15)______ how (16)______ it is to have good cybersecurity to protect against these kinds of schemes.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is cryptocurrency and how does it work?
2. Have you ever heard of MIT? What do you know about it?
3. How do you think the brothers were able to steal $25 million in cryptocurrency?
4. How would you feel if someone stole your cryptocurrency? Why?
5. Do you think the brothers should be punished for their actions? Why or why not?
6. What do you think could be done to improve the safety of the blockchain?
7. Have you ever heard of wire fraud and money laundering before? What do you know about them?
8. Do you think the brothers were smart or foolish for trying to steal cryptocurrency? Why?
9. How important do you think cybersecurity is in today’s digital world? Why?
10. Have you ever had any experiences with cybersecurity issues? If so, can you share?
11. Do you think the brothers should be given a chance to repay the stolen money? Why or why not?
12. How do you think this incident will impact people’s trust in cryptocurrency?
13. Do you think there should be stricter regulations and laws for cryptocurrency transactions? Why or why not?
14. What steps do you think individuals can take to protect themselves from cyber fraud?
15. Have you ever invested in or used cryptocurrency? If so, what was your experience like?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. cryptocurrency
2. arrested
3. wire fraud
4. money laundering
5. scheme
6. uncover
7. exploit
8. transaction
9. blockchain
10. charged
11. guilty
12. cybersecurity
13. protect
14. scheme
15. prison

Meanings:
(A) A digital ledger that records all cryptocurrency transactions
(B) To discover something hidden or secret
(C) A plan or plot, especially one to do something dishonest
(D) A plan or plot, especially one to do something dishonest
(E) Digital or virtual money that uses cryptography for security
(F) A crime involving the use of electronic communications to deceive people
(G) Responsible for committing a crime
(H) Measures taken to protect computers and networks from attack
(I) The process of making illegally-gained money appear legal
(J) To take advantage of a weakness or flaw
(K) A place where people are kept as punishment for a crime
(L) Taken into custody by the police
(M) An instance of buying or selling something
(N) To keep someone or something safe from harm
(O) Formally accused of a crime
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. How much money did the brothers steal in cryptocurrency?
(a) $10 million
(b) $50 million
(c) $25 million
(d) $5 million

2. What are the brothers accused of?
(a) Wire fraud and money laundering
(b) Hacking into government systems
(c) Stealing physical money
(d) Selling illegal drugs

3. How long did the brothers plan their scheme?
(a) Years
(b) Weeks
(c) Days
(d) Months

4. How quickly did the brothers carry out their scheme?
(a) 1 minute
(b) 12 seconds
(c) 1 hour
(d) 1 day

5. Who helped uncover the fraud?
(a) The IRS
(b) The FBI
(c) The CIA
(d) The Department of Justice

6. What skills did the brothers use to exploit Ethereum’s transaction process?
(a) Art and music skills
(b) Cooking and baking skills
(c) Sports and fitness skills
(d) Math and computer science skills

7. What did the brothers do when Ethereum found out about the theft?
(a) They immediately returned the money
(b) They didn’t give the money back and tried to hide it
(c) They apologized and promised not to do it again
(d) They blamed someone else for the theft

8. What could be the possible punishment for the brothers if they are found guilty?
(a) Community service
(b) A fine of $1 million
(c) More than 20 years in prison
(d) Probation

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that the brothers planned and executed their scheme within just 12 seconds.
2. The US Department of Justice says this is the first time such a theft has occurred.
3. The IRS played a role in uncovering this fraudulent activity.
4. The friends utilized their engineering and economics skills from Harvard to exploit Bitcoin’s transaction process.
5. Two friends who attended Harvard have been arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency.
6. The friends are facing charges of identity theft and hacking.
7. They were able to access public transactions and manipulate them to steal people’s cryptocurrency in a matter of hours.
8. Despite being discovered, the brothers refused to return the stolen money and attempted to conceal it.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who are the two brothers that have been arrested for stealing cryptocurrency?
2. What skills did the brothers use to carry out the theft?
3. How long did it take for the brothers to carry out the scheme?
4. What organization helped uncover the fraud?
5. What could happen to the brothers if they are found guilty?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the two brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency?
The two brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency are Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno.

2. Where did the brothers go to school?
The brothers went to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

3. What are the brothers being charged with?
The brothers are being charged with wire fraud and money laundering.

4. How long did it take the brothers to carry out their scheme?
The brothers carried out their scheme in just 12 seconds.

5. Which government agency helped uncover the fraud?
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) helped uncover the fraud.

6. How did the brothers use their skills from MIT to steal cryptocurrency?
The brothers used their math and computer science skills to exploit Ethereum’s transaction process and changed private transactions to steal people’s cryptocurrency.

7. What did the brothers do when Ethereum found out about their actions?
When Ethereum found out about their actions, the brothers didn’t give the money back and tried to hide it.

8. What are the potential consequences if the brothers are found guilty?
If the brothers are found guilty, they could go to prison for more than 20 years.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) brothers
(2) cryptocurrency
(3) Department
(4) Justice
(5) Attorney
(6) uncover
(7) fraud
(8) transaction
(9) transactions
(10) seconds
(11) found
(12) tried
(13) worry
(14) guilty
(15) shows
(16) important
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. cryptocurrency
Answer: (E) Digital or virtual money that uses cryptography for security

2. arrested
Answer: (L) Taken into custody by the police

3. wire fraud
Answer: (F) A crime involving the use of electronic communications to deceive people

4. money laundering
Answer: (I) The process of making illegally-gained money appear legal

5. scheme
Answer: (C) A plan or plot, especially one to do something dishonest

6. uncover
Answer: (B) To discover something hidden or secret

7. exploit
Answer: (J) To take advantage of a weakness or flaw

8. transaction
Answer: (M) An instance of buying or selling something

9. blockchain
Answer: (A) A digital ledger that records all cryptocurrency transactions

10. charged
Answer: (O) Formally accused of a crime

11. guilty
Answer: (G) Responsible for committing a crime

12. cybersecurity
Answer: (H) Measures taken to protect computers and networks from attack

13. protect
Answer: (N) To keep someone or something safe from harm

14. scheme
Answer: (C) A plan or plot, especially one to do something dishonest

15. prison
Answer: (K) A place where people are kept as punishment for a crime
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. How much money did the brothers steal in cryptocurrency?
Answer: (c) $25 million

2. What are the brothers accused of?
Answer: (a) Wire fraud and money laundering

3. How long did the brothers plan their scheme?
Answer: (d) Months

4. How quickly did the brothers carry out their scheme?
Answer: (b) 12 seconds

5. Who helped uncover the fraud?
Answer: (a) The IRS

6. What skills did the brothers use to exploit Ethereum’s transaction process?
Answer: (d) Math and computer science skills

7. What did the brothers do when Ethereum found out about the theft?
Answer: (b) They didn’t give the money back and tried to hide it

8. What could be the possible punishment for the brothers if they are found guilty?
Answer: (c) More than 20 years in prison
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that the brothers planned and executed their scheme within just 12 seconds. (Answer: True)
2. The US Department of Justice says this is the first time such a theft has occurred. (Answer: True)
3. The IRS played a role in uncovering this fraudulent activity. (Answer: True)
4. The friends utilized their engineering and economics skills from Harvard to exploit Bitcoin’s transaction process. (Answer: False)
5. Two friends who attended Harvard have been arrested for stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency. (Answer: False)
6. The friends are facing charges of identity theft and hacking. (Answer: False)
7. They were able to access public transactions and manipulate them to steal people’s cryptocurrency in a matter of hours. (Answer: False)
8. Despite being discovered, the brothers refused to return the stolen money and attempted to conceal it. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧