Crypto Scams Result in November Losses Exceeding $9.38 Million
The broader crypto ecosystem experienced losses exceeding $9.38 million due to attacks, fraud, and phishing scams, impacting nearly 10,000 users, according to ScamSniffer.
Scammers Evolve with New Tactics
On December 3, a blockchain analytics platform reported that crypto scams affected 9,200 users, with the largest individual loss amounting to $661,000 in stETH, a utility token representing a share of total Ethereum staked through the protocol. Other significant losses included $409,000 in WBTC on the Arbitrum network, $344,000 in FET on Uniswap, and $220,000 in USDT via direct transfer on Ethereum.
🧵 [1/7] 🚨 ScamSniffer November Phishing Report
$9,380,000 STOLEN
9,208 VICTIMSNovember saw one victim lose $661K in stETH within minutes – and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Let's dive into the dark side of Web3… 🧵 pic.twitter.com/HDyBGh5tPj
— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) December 3, 2024
Analysts suggested that breaches occurred due to malicious signature requests, which they consider a significant threat. Compared to October's losses of $20.2 million, the current figure represents a 53% decrease. However, the high number of affected users raises concerns about investor confidence in asset safety. In September, losses reached as high as $46 million. ScamSniffer noted an evolving trend among cybercriminals.
While security firms and law enforcement enhance strategies to combat cybercrime, scammers are also adapting their tactics. ScamSniffer identified fake accounts on X and dubious Google ads as primary sources for phishing attempts.
More Strategies for Crypto Scams
A month ago, Coinspeaker reported that scammers impersonate well-known figures to deceive individuals. This often involves hacking social media accounts or creating similar-looking profiles. A recent incident in India involved misleading news claiming endorsement of a crypto platform called “Everix Edge” by Anant Ambani’s son, including a fabricated BBC article attributed to journalist Jane Wakefield, who had no such publication.
CertiK recently highlighted that crypto losses from phishing scams and attacks in Q3 reached $343.1 million across 65 incidents. Efforts by law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, aim to reduce such incidents. In mid-November, South Korean police arrested a group of scammers linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam that generated over $230 million.