Swindlers are constantly seeking new methods to take your money, and the tremendous rise of cryptocurrencies over the last few years has offered lots of chances for fraud. According to a study published by the blockchain analytics company Chainalysis in 2021, criminals stole a record-breaking $14 billion worth of cryptocurrencies that year. This was a record-breaking year for cryptocurrency crime. If you have any interest in cryptocurrencies, it is essential that you be informed of the hazards involved. Continue reading to learn more about popular crypto scams, how to identify them, and how to protect yourself from falling victim to them.
Fake websites
Swindlers may occasionally construct imitation copies of authentic cryptocurrency wallets or fraudulent trading platforms for cryptocurrencies in order to defraud those who aren’t paying attention. These phoney websites often have domain names that are almost identical to the ones they are attempting to imitate, but
a few minor variations. They seem to be quite similar to genuine websites, making it exceedingly difficult to differentiate between the two. Fake cryptocurrency websites often function in one of two ways:
Con jobs using phishing
Phishing attacks using cryptocurrency often target information related to online wallets. Scammers go for the private keys to cryptocurrency wallets since these keys are necessary in order to access the monies stored in the wallet. Their technique of operation is comparable to that of other phishing scams and is associated with the bogus websites that were discussed before. They send an email to recipients with the intention of leading them to a website that was developed specifically for the purpose of requesting private key information. When the hackers have this information in their possession, they may then steal the bitcoin that is stored in the wallets.
Pump and dump schemes
Fraudsters will send out an email blast or use social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Telegram to spread false information about a certain cryptocurrency coin or token. Because they did not want to lose out on the opportunity, traders rushed to acquire the coins, which drove up the price. After the con artists have been successful in driving up the price, they will sell their holdings, which will result in a collapse since the value of the asset will drop dramatically. This may take place in a matter of minutes.
Fake applications
Scammers often take advantage of people investing in cryptocurrencies by making fraudulent applications accessible for download on platforms like as Google Play and the Apple App Store. Even while these fraudulent applications are rapidly discovered and deleted, this does not imply that they are not having an effect on the bottom lines of many businesses. Apps purporting to be for cryptocurrencies have been downloaded by thousands of users.
Fake celebrity endorsements
Scammers in the cryptocurrency industry may often pretend to be celebrities, businesses, or influential persons in order to attract the attention of prospective victims and gain their trust. This might sometimes entail selling phantom cryptocurrencies, which are cryptocurrencies that do not really exist, to beginner investors. These cons may be rather elaborate, consisting of slick websites and glossy pamphlets that give the impression of including celebrity endorsements from well-known figures like Elon Musk.
Ponzi schemes involving giveaways
In the context of what is known as a giveaway scam, con artists will make a promise to double or even triple the amount of bitcoin that is delivered to them. Clever message that comes from an account that often seems to be legitimate on social media may provide the impression of legitimacy and stimulate a feeling of urgency. It’s possible that individuals would rush to transfer money in the hopes of making a profit immediately if they believe that this opportunity is a “once-in-a-lifetime” chance.
Cons consisting of blackmailing and extortion
Blackmail is another another tactic that con artists utilise. They send emails in which they claim to have a record of pornographic websites visited by the user and threaten to expose them if they do not either disclose their private keys with the fraudster or donate bitcoin to them.
Scams using cloud mining
The term “cloud mining” refers to businesses that will let you rent mining gear that they run in return for a flat charge and a percentage of the money that they are expected to generate from the venture. In principle, this makes it possible for anyone to mine remotely without the need to invest in costly mining gear. However, a large number of cloud mining organisations are frauds or, at best, unproductive, meaning that you wind up losing money or earning less than what was promised in their advertising.
Initial coin offers (ICOs) that are a fraud (ICOs)
An initial coin offering, often known as an ICO, is a method that new cryptocurrency businesses may use to solicit financial backing from prospective customers. Customers are often offered the promise of a discount on newly released cryptocurrencies in return for the transmission of operational cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin or another well-known cryptocurrency. Several initial coin offerings (ICOs) have been shown to be fraudulent, with criminals going to creative efforts to defraud investors. For example, they have rented bogus offices and created high-end marketing materials in an effort to trick investors.