Crypto Scam Victim Sues IRS to Deduct $800,000 in Losses

May 13, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC

An Ohio man filed a lawsuit against the IRS for disallowing a $130,000 refund stemming from losses he claims resulted from being a victim of a “pig butchering” crypto scam.

Shane Vaia filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, alleging that he was entitled to a theft loss deduction of over $800,000 and therefore overpaid his 2024 taxes by more than $130,000. Vaia filed an amended tax return in 2025 that claimed deductible losses as a result of the scam, however the IRS disallowed his refund claim.

The IRS declined to comment, ...

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