What is a Bitcoin Scam?

 

Bitcoin Scams involving bitcoin frequently target data about online wallets. Private keys for bitcoin wallets, which are needed to access the wallet’s funds, are the target of scammers. They operate similarly to previous phishing scams and are associated with the fictitious websites mentioned above.

Types of Bitcoin Scams

 

Because cryptocurrency is both enticing and perplexing, it’s ripe for con artists.

Bitcoin prices are skyrocketing, and celebrity investors like Kanye West and Paris Hilton are generating a lot of interest in newer “altcoins.” Nonetheless, most Americans do not know what bitcoin is or how it works.

According to the FTC, this is an ideal combo for scammers. There is a lot of curiosity about crypto assets but little knowledge about how they function. Because investors have no idea what is credible and what isn’t, scammers’ statements sound plausible.

There are numerous types of cryptocurrency scams that might catch would-be investors off guard. But, according to the FTC these are some of the most popular Bitcoin scams.

Hacking as a method of theft

In theory, cryptocurrency should be a risk-free investment.
Every transaction must go through a blockchain, which distributes data across multiple computers and compares it to a database. Therefore, a thief would have to break into most of the computers in the chain to hack the system.

However, nothing is risk-free. Many components of the cryptocurrency economy, including exchanges, coin-mining businesses, and digital wallets where users deposit their money daily, have been breached by hackers.

Because the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation doesn’t protect crypto accounts, there’s usually no way to get your money back once it’s gone (Federal deposit insurance).
The following are some of the most well-known cryptos hacks to date:

• Mt. Gox, a Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange, was hacked in 2014, and 460 million in cash and Bitcoin were stolen.>
• The DAO breach in 2016 was a significant incident in which a venture capital organization that used the Ethereum blockchain lost 3.6 million ether, valued at roughly 70 million.
• The Bitfinex hack in 2016 saw a Hong Kong-based exchange lose approximately 60 million in Bitcoin.
• The NiceHash breach of 2017, in which hackers got into a Slovenian Bitcoin mining company’s payment system and stole $64 million
• Hackers stole over $500 million in digital tokens from a Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange during the Coincheck breach in 2018.

You cannot do much to safeguard yourself from such an onslaught.

The most basic safeguard you can use in all investments: don’t put all your eggs in one basket. You can’t deposit your entire life’s money in one exchange or account, and you can’t lose it all in one day to hackers.

Giveaway Scams

The giveaway fraud is a typical bitcoin fraud. Fraudsters claim that they can assist small investors by impersonating celebrities or well-known bitcoin investors. They then claim that if you send them your cryptocurrency, they will supplement it with some of their own to help you multiply it.

Any funds you provide go directly into the scammers’ pockets. According to the FTC, scammers like Elon Musk duped investors from more than $2 million in cryptocurrencies.

Phony Job Offers

Some con artists will not try to persuade you to invest in cryptocurrency. Instead, they give you a position in which you will be in charge of it.

Fraudsters create phony job postings on job boards looking for workers to mine cryptocurrency, sell it online, attract investors, or assist with converting cash to Bitcoin.

What happens next is unpredictable.

Scammers may charge you a fee to apply for a job, then take your money and, in some instances, your personal information.

In other circumstances, they put you to “work” converting cash to cryptocurrency to have your cash transactions canceled. The common returned check scam seems to have a senior citizen-focused version called bitcoin.

ICO Fraud

The debut of a new cryptocurrency is known as an initial coin offering or ICO. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get in on the ground floor of what could be the next Bitcoin.

Investing in initial coin offerings (ICOs) is always dangerous because no one can anticipate how the new coin will perform. However, some ICOs aren’t simply risky; they’re outright scams.

Scams involving initial coin offerings (ICOs) fall into two categories. The first is an entirely fictitious currency. Criminals develop what appears to be a new altcoin and launch it with a lot of hype. The money that investors put into it is then just pocketed.

The most well-known cryptocurrency fraud was OneCoin. According to the BBC, this fictitious coin raised more than 4 billion euros (about $4 billion) through multi-level marketing.

Crypto spoofing isn’t the only type of spoofing scheme. According to Coindesk, scammers used the same tactic in 2017 to defraud investors who wanted to buy Kik’s new digital tokens. They collected over $20 million in the ether in just 40 minutes.

The simplest way to avoid these scams is to research ICOs thoroughly before investing. To ensure an ICO is authentic, look it up online, and be wary of emails and social media posts promising early access.

The SEC provides guidance on what questions to ask when considering an ICO. It even has its own dummy ICO site, HoweyCoins, to teach investors how to recognize ICO con artists.

How do Bitcoin Scams work?

 

Installing malware (harmful software) on your computer is a final technique for hackers to gain access to your accounts.

Viruses that cause harmful damage, spyware that steals your personal information, and ransomware that keeps your machine captive are all malware.

Wide varieties of malware are specially designed to steal cryptocurrency. These applications can steal your crypto account login credentials, your entire crypto wallet, or even sneak into your account while you’re in the middle of a transaction.

WeSteal is one of the most recent crypto-stealing malware programs. It operates by checking your clipboard for patterns that match the identifiers for Bitcoin or Ethereum wallets. The wallet IDs are then replaced.

Start with the same precautions you’d take against any other digital danger to protect your machine. Use a strong antivirus product and a firewall to protect your incoming and outgoing data.

Solid passwords or a password manager can help you keep track of your login information.

Additionally, think about taking extra care with your crypto transactions. For example, you can hide your real Internet connection by using a VPN (a virtual private network).

You can even keep a separate, dedicated computer that logs into your crypto accounts if you want to be extra cautious.

How To Avoid Bitcoin Scams?

 

When protecting yourself from a bitcoin scam, the most crucial thing you can do is conduct research.

When it comes to cryptocurrency, be intelligent and cautious.

Keep a look out for the indications listed below.

• Scams are easily recognized by outsized returns and assurances of doubled riches.
• Cryptocurrency is an investment you profit from by selling it for a higher price than you paid for it.
• It is almost always a fraud if you are being pushed towards bitcoin by a caller, love interest, organization, or the likes.
• If they insist on payment in bitcoin, that’s another red flag. It’s usually a fraud if you’re requested to pay by wire, transfer, gift, card, or cryptocurrency.

What to do if you’ve been a victim of a Bitcoin Scam?

 

If you have made a payment or revealed personal information, you must act swiftly to avoid being a victim of a Bitcoin scam.

If you have accomplished any of the following, get in touch with your bank right away:

• If you paid using a bank transfer.
• Your personal information was made public.

Bitcoin scammers frequently sell the information they’ve gathered to other crooks. Therefore, changing your usernames and passwords across the board is critical to avoid future harm. If you are a victim of a social media crypto scam, If you think you may have fallen target to a Bitcoin scam or shield fraud, contact AssetsRecovery Recovery to see how we can help.

Why is AssetsRecovery recovery a trusted name in Bitcoin scam recovery?

 

AssetsRecovery Recovery is here to provide excellent customer service and support the growth of our communities.

• Safe
  by safeguarding clients and coworkers using operational and financial resiliency.
• Easy
  by establishing a more direct, seamless money recovery assistance.
• Relationship-led
  by utilizing our industry-leading knowledge, information, and insights to develop strong bonds with victims.

Why Choose us?

 

“AssetsRecovery Recovery” is a trustworthy firm that helps victims overcome Bitcoin scams.” Customers who were scammed by unregulated investment platforms can get high-quality assistance from AssetsRecovery Recovery. We continue to focus on effective investigation techniques, top-tier legal associations, and earning the respect and trust of our clients.
AssetsRecovery Recovery is a firm that specializes in fund recovery, management, and inspection.

• Cyber investigations
• Digital Asset Tracing
• Open Source Intelligence
• Asset Recovery
• It’s easy to employ our refund recovery services.
• Fraud proceeds of millions of dollars have been collected by AssetsRecovery Recovery.