Crypto Scammers: Still Hustling, But Now They’re Sneaky 😈

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Crypto Scammers: Still Hustling, But Now They’re Sneaky 😈

Crypto Scammers: Still Hustling, But Now They’re Sneaky 😈

Seems like the ol’ crypto crooks ain’t as flush as they were last month, but don’t think for a second they’ve gone soft. ScamSniffer, them fellas who sniff out scams like a bloodhound, reported a whopping $10.25 million snatched from 9,220 poor souls in January. That’s a 56% tumble from December, but hey, you gotta give credit where credit’s due – these scammers are adapting, they’re slicker than a greased pig in a butter factory.

One fella lost a cool million through Uniswap’s Permit2 feature, them scammers must’ve been smooth talkin’ like a used car salesman on a Friday night. Another poor sap coughed up $549,000, probably got taken for a ride with a scam so clever, it’d make a conman blush. And then there’s the folks who fell for transaction simulation spoofing, fake transactions that make folks think they’re lookin’ at a real deal – they lost a tidy $471,000. Talk about a hard lesson learned! 🤯

Malware-Based Attacks Surge, Targeting Telegram and Solana Users

But hold your horses, the crooks are still makin’ mischief. These digital bandits are switching gears, moving from those fancy phishing scams to a more insidious approach – malware. They’re sneakier than a snake in the grass, exploitin’ vulnerabilities like a hungry wolf on a sheep ranch.

This malware business is particularly alarming, with a 2,000% spike in Telegram-based “Fake Safeguard” scams. These guys are like digital Robin Hoods, but instead of takin’ from the rich, they’re takin’ from the foolish. And the Solana users? They’re bein’ targeted by fake Phantom wallet popups, that’s like temptin’ a starving man with a plate of ribs right before he’s about to take a bite. They’re tryin’ to snatch them seed phrases, them private keys that unlock their crypto funds. Sneaky, ain’t it?

Social Engineering Scams Continue to Exploit Coinbase Users

Even though they’re gettin’ less loot compared to the last month, don’t think the crooks are gonna be turnin’ over a new leaf any time soon. These scammers are like cockroaches, they’re resilient, adaptin’, and always findin’ new ways to get your hard-earned cash. ZachXBT, that blockchain detective, says Coinbase users are losin’ a cool $300 million a year to social engineering scams. Between December 2024 and January 2025, at least $65 million went poof! But the real figure could be even higher, ’cause ZachXBT says his data is only a glimpse into the dark underbelly of crypto scams. These fellas are slick, they’re spoofin’ phone numbers to make it seem like Coinbase itself is callin’ you. Then they use some of your personal info to convince you your account’s been compromised. They’ll point you to a fake Coinbase website, one that’s so convincing you’d swear it’s the real deal. But it ain’t, and before you know it, your funds are gone!

Back in December, ScamSniffer reported a surge in X impersonation scams, with over 300 fake crypto accounts popping up every single day. It’s a real wild west out there, folks. You gotta be careful. Take it from me, remove those wallet permissions if you’ve visited any shady websites. And for goodness sake, stay away from them so-called “recovery experts” who promise to get your money back. They’re like wolves in sheep’s clothing, just waitin’ for you to fall into their trap again. They’re just exit scammers, trying to steal from you twice. “Avoid ‘recovery experts’ promising 100% returns – they’re exit scammers!” as ScamSniffer said it best.

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2025-02-04 18:49