SCAM 1: Advanced PHISHING ACTIVITIES
Advanced phishing attacks today target crypto wallets and exchange accounts using sophisticated tactics that exploit the user’s confidence to steal private keys or login credentials.
To perform advanced phishing attacks, criminals have created fake websites that mimic legitimate platforms. They send fraudulent emails posing as trusted organizations or used Social Engineering tactics To deceive victims in sharing sensitive information. Some support staff or design -clone interfaces to obtain information.
Attacks can use sophisticated tactics for such Attacking phishing:
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Wallet Drainers: These are the malicious programs or scripts used to attack phishing. After a victim connected their purse to a deceptive site and approved a malicious transaction or granting token permissions, attacking could automatically transfer funds outside the purse.
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Quishing: Scams use malicious QR codes that are placed in emails, text messages or on public surfaces. Once that -Scan, these codes redeem users to phishing websites or to compromise harmful downloads that steal credentials and personal or financial information.
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Spear Phishing: Unlike general phishing, this method will target specific individuals or organizations. Scammers have personal craft messages, which often use urgent phrases such as the “immediate action required.” The goal is to create a sense of panic and victims of pressure making fast, costly mistakes.
In August 2025, Zak Cole, a major Ethereum builder, discovered The crypto wallet is drained After a malicious cursor extension stole his private key. Earlier in that year, in May 2025, an old United States citizen Caught the victim in a $ 330-million bitcoin (Btc) Heist, where the attacking the advanced engineering tactics in society to get access to the victim’s purse.
Do you know? The earliest recorded Bitcoin scam dates in 2011, when a Ponzi scheme Called “Bitcoin Savings & Trust” investors promised 7% weekly return. They eventually cheated on them more than 700,000 BTC.
Scam 2: rug pulls
Scammers often take advantage of the hype surrounding Decentralized Finance (DEFI) platforms and Inappropriate token (NFT) Projects to deceive investors. One common tactic is the pull of the rug, in which the developers suddenly eliminate liquidity and disappear from investors’ funds.
These schemes often mimic legitimate adventures, which promise extraordinary return or exclusive digital assets but ultimately change funds from non -dependent users. There are many overhyped projects that rely on social media buzz without offering a real value. Others are clone platforms that mimic trusted defi or NFT websites to deceive users in depositing their property.
Warning of rug pulls signs Include unrealistic promises of high return with little risk, no transparent auditing or available public codes and unknown teams who do not want to share their identities or qualifications.
Since the beginning of 2025, rug pulls have caused nearly $ 6 billion in losses throughout the web3 ecosystems. By comparison, at the same time in early 2024, the total losses from the pulling rugs were just about $ 90 million.
A well -known example is the Libra token on the Solana network. The token market costs up to $ 4.56 billion after President Argentine mentioned Javier Milei on X. Following the removal of the post, the token price fell over 94%leading to accusations of a rug Pull.
Scam 3: impersonation
Pretending – often on social media – causes a serious threat to the crypto ecosystem, which disrupts confidence and leads to significant losses. Scammers often poses as trusted influencers, developers or staff support on platforms such as X.
In the impersonation scam, scams enter the conversations or create fake profiles to take advantage of users pursuing fast income. They usually run fake giveaways, promising double returns in exchange for small “verification” deposits. Scammers can also run pretending accounts that copy celebrities or send direct messages posing as a support support to obtain access to the purse or promote urgent fund transfer.
Red flags include accounts with partial spelling (eg “@elonmuusk”), unspecified profiles without verification badges and any requests for direct crypto transfers, as legitimate creatures never ask for it.
In 2024 the crypto scams cost victims of $ 9.9 billion worldwide, with pretending fuel A four times Increased, according to the Federal Trade Commission. In Hong Kong, scammers introduced chief executive John Lee through a fake X account and a deepfake video that promotes a digital government -supported.
Do you know? Although blockchain security improves, scams continue to adapt. In 2024-25, scammers moved from Hacking smart contracts In manipulation of human behavior. By 2025-26, their tactics became more advanced.
Scam 4: AI-Powered Deepfake Scam
The AI-powered deepfake scam has emerged as a major threat, using advanced technology to deceive users and steal property. Criminals today use artificial intelligence to create extremely realistic videos or voice clons of well -known executives, influencers and celebrities.
T are accustomed to available public content such as Interviews, Podcasts and YouTube clips, AI-Powered Deepfakes are highly convinced. They can easily be deceived even with careful users in believing deceptive claims.
In August 2024, the New York Times May label A deepfake version of Elon Musk “The largest Internet scammer.” A victim, 82-year-old retired Steve Beauchamp, convinced the video that he invested his entire retirement of $ 690,000 in a few weeks. The money was lost without a trace, and much more fell for similar scams.
Quantum AI is a so -called deceptive online investment program that is incorrectly claimed to use AI and the quantity of computing to generate a high return for investors. Scammers are said to be manipulating their website to showcase fake trade results and use deepfake videos to promote the scheme.
Deepfakes fade the line between real and deceptive communication. They take advantage of the confidence, the rush and the fomo (fear of losing), making it a serious threat.
Do you know? Crypto romance scams arise during the pandemia and continue in 2025. Scammers are building confidence in dating apps before posting fake “investment opportunities,” which ultimately leads victims to send their savings to life.
Scam 5: Crypto support
Fake crypto supports are an increasing threat, targeting users with a deceptive offer of help to steal money or sensitive information. Scams often poses as customer support agents from trusted exchange or purse providers.
Scammers coming from as customer support executives will interact with victims through social media platforms such as X and Telegram or through fake websites that closely resemble official domains. By offering seemingly real help, they take advantage of the user’s trust.
These scammers often share phishing links identified as support portals, promoting the “purse recovery” services that request private keys or Seed phrasesor offers fake refunds designed to remove accounts. Such tactics that victims to users deal with technical issues or are looking for quick solutions.
A well -known crypto support scam appeared following the Coinbase data violation In May 2025, where leaks of personal details – including names, addresses, ID images and bank information – are said to be exploited. Criminals arising in support of Coinbase have contacted the victims, urging them to share security codes, Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Details or moving possessions in fraudulent purses.
