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Nearly 4,000 individuals were arrested globally in a recent sting, highlighting the pervasive issue of crypto scams.
What is Social Engineering?
Social engineering poses a significant threat in the world of cryptocurrency and Web3. Victims are often deceived by offers that seem too good to be true. For instance, in 2022, an example from Talos Intelligence showed a Discord user being lured by a massive crypto giveaway, which was actually a ploy to steal their seed phrase. Such servers are highly sophisticated, instantly banning users who even mention the word “scam.”
Fraudsters also exploit social media platforms. Users who seek help about crypto issues on X might receive replies from fake accounts posing as official customer service representatives. Experts emphasize that fraudsters create a false sense of urgency to trick victims into quick, unconsidered actions. As Lossless DeFi states,
“Social engineering is a particularly dangerous form of attack as it relies on human error rather than vulnerabilities in software or systems.”
A Persistent Threat
Romance scams are another prevalent issue involving cryptocurrency. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the U.S. has warned consumers to be wary if someone they meet on social media offers investment lessons. They advise cutting off contact immediately, regardless of the emotional connection.
“No one thinks their online love interest is going to scam them, but scammers are good at what they do. They establish an emotional connection with you … but they’ve done their homework, checking out your profile and other information on the platform.”
Additionally, the FBI has noted that victims of crypto scams are often targeted again by fraudsters posing as lawyers, offering to recover lost funds. Estimates suggest that at least $9.9 million was lost in such cases up to February, and these figures are likely understated.
A Challenging Landscape
The results of Operation First Light are promising. In one case, international coordination prevented a 70-year-old from losing $281,000 to a scammer posing as tech support. Despite these successes, crypto scams remain widespread, and much wrongdoing goes undetected.
It’s also crucial to recognize that many scammers are themselves victims, coerced into these activities. UN estimates indicate that over 200,000 individuals have been lured into high-paying job offers overseas, only to have their passports confiscated.
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