Cryptocurrency Scams
Cryptocurrency has captured the world’s attention and “Olympic-level scammers” have taken notice too.
With the rise in popularity of crypto and blockchain technology. The high-tech nature of crypto will attract sophisticated scammers capable of pulling off “Olympic-level” hacks and schemes…. Experts say it’s smart to keep your crypto investments under 5% of your overall portfolio. Crypto prices fluctuate wildly by the day, and experts also say you’d be smart not to invest more than you’d be OK losing if the market dropped out altogether. Crypto investments should also never get in the way of other financial priorities like saving for emergencies, paying off high-interest debt, and saving for retirement using more conventional investment strategies.
Like it or not, crypto investors are opening themselves up to this new and evolving risk of fraud and scams. If you’ve incorporated crypto into your investment portfolio or are interested in investing in Bitcoin or Ethereum in the future, here are some common scams and red flags to look out for.
What Are Some Common Cryptocurrency Scams?
Almost 7,000 people lost upwards of $80 million in crypto scams from October 2020 through March 2021, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s a huge jump over the 570 cryptocurrency investment scams and $7.5 million in losses during the same months just the year before. With cryptocurrency scams on the rise, here are some patterns to look out for:
Demanding Crypto-Only Payments
If a seemingly credible person or retail establishment claims they cannot accept any form of currency other than Bitcoin, it’s likely a scam. Bitcoin and other altcoins are a burgeoning asset class, so experts say credible institutions aren’t going to accept crypto and not also accept U.S. dollars through normal means like wire transfers, checks, credit, and debit card payments, and cash.
In general, anyone demanding you pay them in Bitcoin might be trying to hoard it and capitalize on its skyrocketing value. And unlike banks, blockchain lacks common know-your-customer (KYC) protocols. That means people can open wallets without having to present valid identification, a Social Security number, or an address and contact information. Though blockchain is public and creates permanent, open-access records, people can transact on blockchain more or less anonymously — making it easy to trick you, take your money, and run.
Anonymous or Fake Identities
The lack of KYC protocols on blockchain is a major question mark for its widespread use, says Jonathan Padilla, former PayPal head of blockchain strategy and CEO and co-founder at Snickerdoodle Labs,
a California-based blockchain data security company that’s looking at using blockchain to give consumers ownership of their cookies and browsing data.
Digital Collectibles and Games
Like we saw with the “Squid Game” scam, sophisticated coders now have the ability to create new games and entire imaginary worlds on blockchain. And to do it as quickly as the next viral Netflix show takes off.
An easy way to scam excited blockchain newbies is to get them to buy a type of newly minted coin or token for a game. If enough people drive the price up through supply and demand, this gives the original scammers an opportunity to sell all their holdings and disappear in a move known as a “rug pull.”
Unlike bank accounts for federally regulated currency, there’s no such thing as fraud protection or FDIC insurance on the blockchain. When your money gets stolen on blockchain, the only way to get it back is for the recipient to pay you back directly. On a decentralized exchange, that’s highly unlikely. And while mainstream crypto exchanges have better fraud security measures than lesser-known exchanges, there’s still no guarantee for investors to recoup stolen crypto.
Cryptocurrency Investment Schemes
New forms of crypto are constantly being minted, and when new coins hit the blockchain it’s known as an initial coin offering (ICO). But ICOs are also opportunities for scams. A company or individual may say they have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to invest in a new form of crypto with guaranteed 1,000% returns. They may then pressure you into depositing a bunch of new coins into a digital wallet that’s been compromised somehow, or “pump and dump” by buying up the coin and selling when the price explodes.
Romance Scams
Dating apps are rife with crypto scams. According to the FTC, about 20% of the money lost in romance scams from October 2020 through March 2021 was sent in the form of cryptocurrency. Scams like this involve long-distance or digital relationships in which one party pressures and convinces the other to buy or give money for some new crypto that’s really just a way to scam people out of their money.
Phishing Scams
This type of scam is as old as the internet, but with crypto there are some new implications. Just as a “normal” phishing attack would work, bad actors send emails attempting to bait recipients into clicking links and inputting their personal details — including crypto wallet key info. But unlike most passwords and usernames, you only get one private key to your blockchain wallets. This is part of blockchain’s decentralized design, ensuring that one entity cannot control your information, but it poses an issue if you ever need to change your key.
How Investors Can Protect Their Crypto
Even the most advanced and enthusiastic cryptocurrency experts understand there are many new and evolving risks in the world of crypto right now. Some have weathered scams themselves, such as the blockchain investor and entrepreneur Ian Balina, who said he lost $2.5 million after his private wallet key information was compromised by someone hacking into his Evernote account. Balina’s story highlights the possibility of loss and fraud when dealing with such a new, volatile asset class, even for successful investors. Financial experts advise most passive investors to keep crypto holdings to under 5% of their portfolios, and never to invest in crypto at the expense of saving for emergencies or paying off high-interest debt. If you feel ready to start investing in crypto, here are some best practices to protect your money:
Cryptocurrency Red Flags
For starters, watch out for some common red flags that are similar to classic money wiring scams and credit card fraud:
- Typographical errors and obvious misspellings in emails, on social media posts, and during any communication
- Promises to multiply your money
- Contractual obligations that lock you into holding crypto without being able to sell
- Fake influencers or claims to be a celebrity
- Psychological manipulation like blackmail or extortion
- Large social media crypto schemes
- Promises of free money
- Vague details about where your money is going
Did you get scammed in a cryptocurrency scam? How can you get your scammed crypto back? If you’ve been the victim of cryptocurrency or bitcoin scams, don’t be discouraged because of the immeasurable fraud and the figure of individuals damaged over the past 8 years. Regulators globally want you to take comfort in knowing that many people have recovered Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – nothing is truly anonymous. A great first step is to utilize our recovery company by contacting us via our email or filling out our personal information form. We will assign someone to your case who will work with you throughout this challenging process and try every possible method to get your cryptocurrency back. Check out the testimonials and reviews for yourself – we have an industry-leading track record.
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We take pride in our track record and assure you that we’ll go to great lengths to get your money back.
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