FBI Issues Alert: Scammers Posing as Crypto Exchange Representatives to Steal Funds

FBI Issues Alert: Scammers Posing as Crypto Exchange Representatives to Steal Funds

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has recently issued a stark warning about a surge in scams where criminals impersonate employees of cryptocurrency exchanges to steal users’ funds.

According to the FBI, these fraudsters reach out to their victims via phone calls or messages, pretending to be legitimate representatives of a crypto exchange. They typically claim that the user’s account is facing security issues or that there has been an attempt to compromise the account, creating a sense of urgency and panic.

Once the victim is sufficiently alarmed, the scammers instruct them to take immediate action, which often involves providing access codes, clicking on malicious links, or sharing personal identification details. These actions allow the scammers to gain access to the victim’s account and siphon off their digital assets.

FBI Advises Caution: Do Not Respond to Suspicious Calls or Messages

The FBI strongly advises crypto users to avoid responding to any unsolicited communications that suggest there is a problem with their account, even if the message appears to be official. The agency recommends that users immediately hang up and independently contact the cryptocurrency exchange using its official contact information to verify if there is an issue. The FBI cautions against using any phone numbers provided by the caller.

Additionally, users should refrain from visiting any websites or clicking on any links sent by the scammer. Instead, they should directly navigate to the official website of the exchange.

If the caller requests login credentials, the FBI urges users not to disclose this information. Users should also avoid downloading any files or attachments sent in these communications.

Lastly, the FBI encourages victims of such scams to report the incident through their official channels, including any transaction details associated with the fraudulent activity.

FBI Also Warns Against Fake Remote Job Scams

On June 6, the FBI noted an increase in fraudulent job advertisements for fake work-from-home opportunities. In these scams, criminals use a deceptive interface to make victims believe they are earning money. Once hooked, victims are asked to make cryptocurrency payments to access more job opportunities. However, the promised earnings are fabricated, and the payments go directly to the scammers.