Crypto phishing scams: How users can stay protected

A look at the different techniques employed by crypto phishing scammers and how users can stay protected.

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency, where digital assets are exchanged, and fortunes can be made, a lurking danger threatens the safety of both seasoned investors and newcomers alike: crypto phishing scams. 

These schemes are designed to exploit the trust and vulnerability of individuals, aiming to trick them into revealing their sensitive information or even parting with their hard-earned crypto holdings.

As the popularity of cryptocurrencies continues to rise, so does the sophistication of phishing techniques employed by cybercriminals. From impersonating legitimate exchanges and wallets to crafting compelling social engineering tactics, these scammers stop at nothing to gain unauthorized access to your digital assets.

Malicious actors use different methods of social engineering to target their victims. With social engineering tactics, scammers manipulate users’ emotions and create a sense of trust and urgency.

Eric Parker, CEO and co-founder of Giddy — a noncustodial wallet — told Cointelegraph, “Did someone reach out to you without you asking? That’s one of the biggest rules of thumb you can use. Customer service rarely, if ever, proactively reaches out to you, so you should always be suspicious of messages saying you need to take action on your account.”

“Same idea with free money: If someone is messaging you because they want to give you free money, it’s likely, not real. Be wary of any message that feels too good to be true or gives you an immediate sense of urgency or fear to make you act quickly.”

Email and messaging scams

One common technique used in crypto phishing scams is impersonating trusted entities, such as cryptocurrency exchanges or wallet providers. The scammers send out emails or messages that appear to be from these legitimate organizations, using similar branding, logos and email addresses. They aim to deceive recipients into believing that the communication is from a trustworthy source.

To achieve this, the scammers may use techniques like email spoofing, where they forge the sender’s email address to make it appear as if it’s coming from a legitimate organization. They may also use social engineering tactics to personalize the messages and make them seem more authentic. By impersonating trusted entities, scammers exploit the trust and credibility associated with these organizations to trick users into taking actions that compromise their security.

Fake support requests

Crypto phishing scammers often pose as customer support representatives of legitimate cryptocurrency exchanges or wallet providers. They send emails or messages to unsuspecting users, claiming an issue with their account or a pending transaction that requires immediate attention.

The scammers provide a contact method or a link to a fake support website where users are prompted to enter their login credentials or other sensitive information.

Omri Lahav, CEO and co-founder of Blockfence — a crypto-security browser extension — told Cointelegraph, “It’s important to remember that if someone sends you a message or email unsolicited, they likely want something from you. These links and attachments can contain malware designed to steal your keys or gain access to your systems,” continuing:

“Furthermore, they can redirect you to phishing websites. Always verify the sender’s identity and the email’s legitimacy to ensure safety. Avoid clicking on links directly; copy and paste the URL into your browser, checking carefully for any spelling discrepancies in the domain name.”

By impersonating support personnel, scammers exploit users’ trust in legitimate customer support channels. In addition, they prey on the desire to resolve issues quickly, leading users to willingly disclose their private information, which scammers can use for malicious purposes later.

Fake websites and cloned platforms

Malicious actors can also build fake websites and platforms to lure in unsuspecting users.

Domain name spoofing is a technique where scammers register domain names that closely resemble the names of legitimate cryptocurrency exchanges or wallet providers. For example, they might register a domain like “exchnage.com” instead of “exchange.com” or “myethwallet” instead of “myetherwallet.” Unfortunately, these slight variations can be easily overlooked by unsuspecting users.

Lahav said that users should “verify whether the website in question is reputable and well-known.”

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“Checking the correct spelling of the URL is also crucial, as malicious actors often create URLs that closely resemble those of legitimate sites. Users should also be cautious with websites they discover through Google ads, as they may not organically rank high in search results,” he said.

Scammers use these spoofed domain names to create websites that imitate legitimate platforms. They often send phishing emails or messages containing links to these fake websites, tricking users into believing they are accessing the genuine platform. Once users enter their login credentials or perform transactions on these websites, the scammers capture the sensitive information and exploit it for their gain.

Malicious software and mobile apps

Hackers can also resort to using malicious software to target users. Keyloggers and clipboard hijacking are techniques crypto phishing scammers use to steal sensitive information from users’ devices.

Keyloggers are malicious software programs that record every keystroke a user makes on their device. When users enter their login credentials or private keys, the keylogger captures this information and sends it back to the scammers. Clipboard hijacking involves intercepting the content copied to the device’s clipboard. 

Cryptocurrency transactions often involve copying and pasting wallet addresses or other sensitive information. Scammers use malicious software to monitor the clipboard and replace legitimate wallet addresses with their own. When users paste the information into the intended field, they unknowingly send their funds to the scammer’s wallet instead.

How users can stay protected against crypto phishing scams

There are steps that users can take to protect themselves while navigating the crypto space.

Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is one tool that can help secure crypto-related accounts from phishing scams.

2FA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to provide a second form of verification, typically a unique code generated on their mobile device, in addition to their password. This ensures that even if attackers obtain the user’s login credentials through phishing attempts, they still need the second factor (such as a time-based one-time password) to gain access.

Utilizing hardware or software-based authenticators

When setting up 2FA, users should consider using hardware or software-based authenticators rather than relying solely on SMS-based authentication. SMS-based 2FA can be vulnerable to SIM-swapping attacks, where attackers fraudulently take control of the user’s phone number.

Hardware authenticators, such as YubiKey or security keys, are physical devices that generate one-time passwords and provide an extra layer of security. Software-based authenticators, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, generate time-based codes on users’ smartphones. These methods are securer than SMS-based authentication because they are not susceptible to SIM-swapping attacks.

Verify website authenticity

To protect against phishing scams, users should avoid clicking on links provided in emails, messages or other unverified sources. Instead, they should manually enter the website URLs of their cryptocurrency exchanges, wallets or any other platforms they wish to access.

By manually entering the website URL, users ensure they access the legitimate website directly rather than being redirected to a fake or cloned website by clicking on a phishing link.

Be cautious with links and attachments

Before clicking on any links, users should hover their mouse cursor over them to view the destination URL in the browser’s status bar or tooltip. This allows users to verify the link’s actual destination and ensure that it matches the expected website.

Phishing scammers often disguise links by displaying a different URL text than the destination. By hovering over the link, users can detect inconsistencies and suspicious URLs that may indicate a phishing attempt.

Parker explained to Cointelegraph, “It’s very easy to fake the underlying link in an email. A scammer can show you one link in the email’s text but make the underlying hyperlink something else.”

“A favorite scam amongst crypto phishers is to copy a reputable website’s UI but place their malicious code for the login or Wallet Connect portion, which results in stolen passwords, or worse, stolen seed phrases. So, always double-check the website URL you’re logging into or connecting your crypto wallet with.”

Scanning attachments with antivirus software

Users should exercise caution when downloading and opening attachments, especially from untrusted or suspicious sources. Attachments can contain malware, including keyloggers or trojans, which can compromise the security of a user’s device and cryptocurrency accounts.

To mitigate this risk, users should scan all attachments with reputable antivirus software before opening them. This helps detect and remove any potential malware threats, reducing the chances of falling victim to a phishing attack.

Keep software and apps updated

Keeping operating systems, web browsers, devices and other software up to date is essential for maintaining the security of the user’s devices. Updates can include security patches that address known vulnerabilities and protect against emerging threats.

Utilizing reputable security software

To add an extra layer of protection against phishing scams and malware, users should consider installing reputable security software on their devices.

Antivirus, anti-malware and anti-phishing software can help detect and block malicious threats, including phishing emails, fake websites and malware-infected files.

By regularly updating and running security scans using reputable software, users can minimize the risk of falling victim to phishing scams and ensure the overall security of their devices and cryptocurrency-related activities.

Educate yourself and stay informed

Crypto phishing scams constantly evolve, and new tactics emerge regularly. Users should take the initiative to educate themselves about the latest phishing techniques and scams targeting the cryptocurrency community. In addition, stay informed by researching and reading about recent phishing incidents and security best practices.

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To stay updated on security-related news and receive timely warnings about phishing scams, users should follow trusted sources in the cryptocurrency community. This can include official announcements and social media accounts of cryptocurrency exchanges, wallet providers and reputable cybersecurity organizations.

By following reliable sources, users can receive accurate information and alerts regarding emerging phishing scams, security vulnerabilities and best practices for protecting their crypto assets.