tl;dr
The FBI has issued a warning about scammers impersonating cryptocurrency exchange employees to steal funds. The scammers create a sense of urgency about account issues to trick victims into providing login information or sharing identification details. The FBI advises verifying account problem claim...
The FBI has issued a warning about scammers impersonating cryptocurrency exchange employees in an attempt to steal funds. These scammers create a sense of urgency about account issues to trick victims into providing login information or sharing identification details.
The FBI advises verifying account problem claims by contacting the cryptocurrency exchange directly and not responding to unsolicited messages or clicking on links. Additionally, individuals are cautioned against providing account login information under any circumstances and should be wary of unsolicited messages containing links, downloads, or attachments.
The FBI urges reporting any suspicious activity to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Furthermore, the FBI has detected an increase in scam advertisements for fake work-from-home jobs, where scammers deceive users into making cryptocurrency payments with false promises of earnings.
Scammers impersonate cryptocurrency exchange employees to steal funds by initiating contact with victims via unsolicited calls or messages, pretending to be exchange employees. They manufacture a sense of urgency about supposed issues with the victim’s account, leading to victims being tricked into providing login information, clicking on malicious links, or sharing identification details. Once the scammers gain access to the account, they swiftly steal the cryptocurrency.
Additionally, scammers use various tactics to enhance their credibility, such as claiming there is an urgent problem with the victim’s account or asserting that someone is attempting to compromise it. To safeguard the account, they instruct victims to provide sensitive information. This method relies on creating panic and urgency, making victims more likely to comply without verifying the situation.
To protect yourself, verify any call or message about an account problem by contacting the cryptocurrency exchange directly using their official phone number. Do not respond to unsolicited messages, even if they appear official and urgent. Moreover, avoid clicking on any links or visiting websites sent by the caller. If anyone asks for your account login information, do not provide it under any circumstances. Be cautious of unsolicited messages that include links, downloads, or attachments, as well as services that claim they can recover lost cryptocurrency funds.
The FBI urges individuals who encounter suspicious activity to report it to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. Detailed transaction information related to the scam can significantly aid investigations. Furthermore, the FBI detected a rise in scam advertisements for fake work-from-home jobs, where scammers deceive users into making cryptocurrency payments with false promises of earnings. However, the earnings are not real, and the cryptocurrency goes directly to the scammers, leaving victims without any chance of recovering it.