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)
π§ Listen:
π 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.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The two brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency are Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno.
The brothers went to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
The brothers are being charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
The brothers carried out their scheme in just 12 seconds.
The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) helped uncover the fraud.
The brothers used their math and computer science skills to exploit Ethereum's transaction process and changed private transactions to steal people's cryptocurrency.
When Ethereum found out about their actions, the brothers didn't give the money back and tried to hide it.
If the brothers are found guilty, they could go to prison for more than 20 years.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Two , Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, and James Peraire-Bueno, 28, who went to MIT, have been arrested for stealing $25 million in . The US of says this is the first time something like this has happened. The brothers are accused of wire fraud and money laundering. Deputy General Lisa Monaco said the brothers planned this scheme for months and carried it out in just 12 seconds. The IRS helped this . The brothers used their math and computer science skills from MIT to exploit Ethereum's process. They got into private and changed them to steal people's cryptocurrency. They did this in . When Ethereum out, the brothers didn't give the money back and to hide it. This is the first time someone has been charged with this kind of fraud. It makes people about the safety of the blockchain, which keeps track of cryptocurrency payments. If the brothers are found , they could go to prison for more than 20 years. This how it is to have good cybersecurity to protect against these kinds of schemes.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
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
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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