Hamster Kombat Players Targeted by Scammers Amid Game’s Viral Popularity

Hamster Kombat Players Targeted by Scammers Amid Game’s Viral Popularity

Hamster Kombat, a rapidly growing tap-to-earn mobile game, has become a prime target for scammers and malicious actors looking to exploit its popularity.

According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, players of the Telegram-based game are facing phishing attacks designed to deceive them into actions that benefit the scammers. Security expert Olga Svistunova revealed to Cointelegraph:

“Our team has uncovered a series of fraudulent schemes aimed at Hamster Kombat users. One such scheme involves scammers promising to convert in-game coins to rubles via phishing links that require Telegram login credentials.”

Svistunova explained that once attackers obtain the users’ credentials, they can access personal accounts, enabling them to steal data, commit blackmail, and send fraudulent messages. Although the primary target is victims in Russia, fraudsters from other countries could potentially adopt similar tactics.

Hamster Kombat has gained immense popularity, attracting 239 million users in just 81 days. With 4-5 million new users joining daily, it ranks among the fastest-growing digital services globally, as per Telegram founder Pavel Durov.

Cybersecurity Firm Warns of Fake Hamster Kombat Crypto Airdrops

Cryptocurrency scammers are also targeting the viral game with fake airdrops, leading users to fraudulent links. According to Svistunova, these fake airdrops aim to steal users’ crypto wallet credentials:

“Scammers lure victims with the promise of free cryptocurrency through fake Hamster cryptocurrency airdrops, intending to steal crypto wallet information. Additionally, fraudsters set up phishing sites claiming to sell Hamster cryptocurrency at a discount, tricking users into providing access to their crypto wallets.”

The Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) token has seen a surge in popularity, following its listing for pre-market trading on Bybit on July 8.

Kaspersky further warned that scammers are creating fake websites offering free coins to users, with the real intention of stealing cryptocurrency through “fraudulent commission payments.”

Ongoing Impact of Crypto Hacks and Phishing Attacks

Crypto hacks and phishing attacks continue to undermine the credibility of the cryptocurrency industry. Nearly $19 billion worth of digital assets have been stolen in 785 reported hacks and exploits over the past 13 years, since the first known crypto hack in June 2011.

The largest single crypto theft remains the 2019 Plus Token fraud, where attackers stole $2.9 billion worth of Bitcoin and Ether.

Phishing scams are an escalating threat, especially on newer blockchains. For example, phishing attacks on Base increased by 1,900% in March compared to January, resulting in an 18-fold rise in crypto stolen through phishing.