A new fraud technique is attacking the United Kingdom, with crypto criminals impersonating reputable publications like BBC. These fake news reports may contain fraudulent investment opportunities or scam attacks.
A serious incident targeted victims of a CEX data leak, then used a fake government warning to describe the security incident. This strategy helped hackers steal 2.1 million pounds from a single victim.
New Scam Attacks the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has been dealing with crypto scams on social media for many years, and a new wave of activity is emerging. Recently, both BBC and local Welsh media reported a worrying new trend: impersonating publications directly.
"Fake articles are spreading, looking like articles encouraging people to invest in crypto plans. One of these articles was designed to look like it was on WalesOnline. It is being promoted on Facebook and claims the plan is endorsed by the Welsh government," said David James, Editor at WalesOnline.
Essentially, these hackers run fake token advertisements or scam warnings, made to look like they're from the UK government or reputable media organizations. They include details like fake quotes or footage to help sell the illusion.
Social Engineering Techniques Causing Severe Damage
Recently, many crypto criminals have used fake website copies to lure potential victims. This tactic is certainly a global trend. However, an activity in England is a particularly clever fraudulent innovation. It uses information from a data leak to target victims, which is also quite common. However, criminals have combined them in a truly novel way.
The scam includes a fake BBC warning describing a data leak. A user might vaguely realize their data has been compromised, and then see a "news report" describing the incident. The report would urge the victim to act quickly to protect their tokens.
In reality, this hasty action would allow hackers to drain the target's wallet. UK law enforcement reports that this heinous fraud technique has stolen 2.1 million pounds from a single victim. Moreover, the police have not yet been able to trace this money.
Whether you are in England or anywhere else, crypto scams are always present and continuously evolving. If this strategy succeeds in one country, it can quickly multiply and attack targets worldwide. Readers are advised to be cautious in protecting their assets.
