Internet #fraud cost US citizens more over $10 billion in 2022, with $2.57 billion of that loss coming from #cryptocurrency investment schemes.

In 2021, fraudulent cryptocurrency investment losses will amount $907 million. The victims are mostly between the ages of 30 and 49. Getting consumers to connect their wallets to fraudulent liquidity mining software in order to steal their money or take over their social media accounts is the most common technique of fraud.

While more people are being convinced to part with their hard-earned money in these fraudulent scams, this unpleasant trend is on the rise. In order to avoid falling victim to such scams, it is essential to do sufficient research before making an investment. To further safeguard the security of your money, it is essential to only work with reputable and reliable brokers and exchangers.

Scams using bitcoin are becoming more and more of a concern for everyone, not just Americans. #Scams can take many different shapes, such as fake ICOs, Ponzi plans, and phishing. A recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) survey found that men between the ages of 20 and 49 were the most affected demographic.

It is crucial to remember that fraudsters find cryptocurrencies and #blockchain technology to be enticing targets due to their nature. Because transactions are decentralized and participants are anonymous, it is challenging to track down and recover stolen assets. This underlines how crucial it is to use cautious while working with bitcoin.

The crypto sector is still in its infancy and has a dismal track record for its companies. Yet, this is a promising area that is anticipated to grow quickly in the future. In order to make the rules more restrictive for both enterprises and investors, government agencies are working on legal concerns.

It's crucial to use caution and awareness when investing in cryptocurrency. Do your research, work with reputable brokers, and always verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities before you deposit your money. You can prevent falling for #bitcoin investment scams by taking these precautions.

The Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler, recently highlighted the increasing number of frauds in the cryptocurrency space, which is linked to the historic surge in the price of Bitcoin. Gensler emphasized the risks associated with unethical practices in the crypto world and pointed out the volatile nature of Bitcoin, which can attract speculative investors.
Gensler pointed out the issues in the broader context of the crypto industry, including the dangers arising from inadequate information provided by digital asset intermediaries, which could jeopardize investors.
Year 2023: Record Year for Cryptocurrency Frauds
According to analysis by Chainalysis, frauds became a key factor in cryptocurrency-related crime in 2023, with generated revenues exceeding $4.6 billion. The FBI's report on internet crime shows that there was an increase in losses from crypto investment frauds in the USA to $3.94 billion, representing a 53% increase from the previous year. Investment frauds became the most common type of internet crime in 2023.

Reasons for the Increase in Frauds
The rise in frauds is linked to increasing interest in high-yield investment opportunities during strong market sentiment. Chainalysis research suggests that frauds generate smaller revenues during downturns in the crypto market.

Most Common Types of Fraudulent Schemes
The BBB's 2023 fraud report revealed that scammers come up with innovative methods to deceive investors, with approximately 80% of Americans targeted by crypto and investment frauds in 2022 experiencing financial losses. A significant increase was noted in cases of romance scams, which increased 85 times since 2020.

Pump and dump schemes are unpredictable and utilize new tokens to artificially inflate their prices, enabling fraudsters to make money when prices are at their peak. According to Chainalysis, only a small percentage of the more than 370,000 tokens launched on Ethereum in 2023 achieved significant liquidity.

How to Protect Oneself
The key to protecting oneself from frauds is to be vigilant and informed about potential risks. A proactive approach and caution in trading cryptocurrencies can help minimize the possibility of falling victim to frauds.
Conclusion
The risk of frauds is high in the cryptocurrency world, especially at a time when the market is constantly evolving and attracting new investors. It is important to be aware of potential dangers and take measures to protect your investments.
#crypto #fraud

Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

In the world of cryptocurrency, the decentralized exchange SushiSwap has recently suffered a significant loss of $3.3 million due to an exploit in the allocation of its tokens. This incident has prompted the exchange to advise its users to revoke their token allowances to prevent further losses.

SushiSwap is a decentralized exchange platform that allows users to trade cryptocurrencies in a decentralized manner. One of its unique features is the ability to earn rewards by staking or providing liquidity to the platform. This incentivizes users to hold and use the platform's native token, SUSHI.

However, on April 4th, an unknown attacker was able to exploit a vulnerability in the SushiSwap platform's token allocation mechanism. The attacker was able to drain $3.3 million worth of SUSHI tokens from the exchange's liquidity pools.

The exploit was carried out by manipulating the platform's token allocation function, allowing the attacker to steal the funds without being detected. This type of exploit, known as a "flash loan attack," is becoming increasingly common in the cryptocurrency world.

Following the incident, SushiSwap quickly took action by urging its users to revoke their token allowances. This means that users can prevent their tokens from being used in any future attacks by revoking access to the exchange's liquidity pools.

SushiSwap also announced that it would be taking steps to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. The exchange has deployed additional security measures, including an audit of its codebase and the implementation of a new governance system to improve transparency and accountability.

Despite the incident, SushiSwap's community remains optimistic about the platform's future. Many users have expressed their support for the exchange and its efforts to address the issue. The platform has also seen a surge in activity, with its daily trading volume reaching an all-time high of $2.5 billion just a day after the attack.

In conclusion, the exploit in the allocation of SushiSwap tokens highlights the importance of robust security measures in the cryptocurrency world. SushiSwap's quick response to the incident and its commitment to improving its security measures demonstrate the resilience of the cryptocurrency community in the face of such challenges. As the cryptocurrency world continues to evolve, it is essential for exchanges and platforms to remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding their users' assets.

#sushiswap #exploit #hackers #fraud #cybersecurity

Federal indictment does not name FTX or Sam Bankman-Fried as the victimized company, but Bloomberg reports it was indeed them.

The United States federal government has on Wednesday issued charges against three individuals allegedly involved in a long-standing hacking scheme culminating in the infamous theft of $400 million from FTX, a #cryptocurrency exchange owned by Sam Bankman-Fried, which subsequently collapsed.
In an 18-page indictment filed in a federal court in Washington, prosecutors have accused Robert Powell, Carter Rohn, and Emily Hernandez of conspiring to commit wire fraud and identity theft in the operation of a SIM card swap ring targeting fifty victims from March 2021 to April 2023.
Their most significant heist took place on November 11, 2022, when the trio siphoned off $400 million from an unidentified company. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, claims that the company in question was FTX.
Through AT&T networks, they gained access to the cryptocurrency exchange's employees and transferred cryptocurrencies worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
This indictment may finally provide an answer to one of the most significant questions surrounding the FTX scandal: Where did the hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrencies disappear to during the darkest hour of the exchange, right after it filed for bankruptcy protection.
#crypto #fraud

Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

According to a recent article in The New York Times, Sam "SBF" Bankman-Fried, the founder of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, is providing investment advice to prison guards and suggesting investments in the cryptocurrency Solana.
SBF's legal representatives seek a lighter sentence
The legal team of former FTX chief, Sam "SBF" Bankman-Fried, filed a motion in the Federal District Court in Manhattan requesting a sentence ranging from five and a quarter years to six and a half years. Following charges of multiple offenses including fraud and money laundering, which could have led SBF to face up to 110 years in prison, this request emerges as a response to last year's jury verdict.
Details of the charges and expected sentence
SBF faces charges of various financial crimes, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and money laundering. The sentence for SBF is scheduled to be handed down by Judge Lewis A. Kaplan on March 28, while federal prosecutors are expected to submit their sentencing recommendation by March 15. A preliminary investigation report suggested a sentence of 100 years.
Defense arguments for a reduced sentence
SBF's lawyers have labeled the proposed century-long sentence as "barbaric," pointing out that SBF is a first-time offender with no prior criminal record and that four co-defendants have confessed to the crimes. Furthermore, they argued that the damages to clients, creditors, and investors are zero, as the bankruptcy process of FTX is expected to enable full reimbursement to clients for their losses.
SBF's life in prison and his advice to prison guards
Since his imprisonment at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn last summer, several stories about SBF have emerged from prison, including his offering of trading and investment advice to prison guards, recommending investment in the cryptocurrency Solana. This activity follows the collapse of FTX, one of the largest crypto exchanges, which was valued at $32 billion in January 2022 before collapsing in November of the same year due to mismanagement and fraud involving $8 billion of customer funds.
$SOL
#Solana #SBF #fraud

Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

 

#DeFi security startup Quantstamp has recently released a report highlighting alarming security incidents in the growing world of decentralized finance (DeFi). Malicious actors are employing sophisticated methods to threaten and exploit DeFi protocols.
Nearly $39 Million Lost
Quantstamp revealed that malicious actors managed to drain approximately $38.9 million from DeFi through various attacks. These incidents involved the use of smart contracts, key compromises, and fraud.

Radiant Capital: The First Target
The first significant target was the Radiant Capital protocol, which facilitates cross-chain lending. Attackers caused a loss of 1,900 #ETH (approximately $4.5 million) by exploiting a time window and a known rounding issue in the Compound/Aave code. This incident raised concerns about the security of DeFi platforms and their users.

Gamma Protocol: Another Victim
A devastating attack followed on the Gamma Protocol, a liquidity control protocol, which suffered a loss of approximately $6.18 million. Exploiting vulnerabilities in the price movement threshold configuration allowed attackers to manipulate prices and generate a large number of LP tokens.

Wise Lending and Socket Protocol
Wise Lending, another prominent player, fell victim to a flash loan attack, resulting in a loss of at least $460,000. The Socket Protocol, an interoperability protocol, was also targeted, with attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in a new module to steal approximately $3.3 million from users.

Goledo Finance: A Loss of 7.9 Million CFX
Goledo Finance, a lending protocol within the Conflux ecosystem, was also subjected to an attack, resulting in a loss of 7.9 million CFX (approximately $1.7 million). This incident underscores the serious threat that malicious actors pose to DeFi platforms.

Persistent Threat to DeFi
In conclusion, this series of attacks, including recurring flash loan attacks, underscores the persistent threat that DeFi platforms must contend with. Thorough security measures need to be implemented, and vulnerabilities monitored to minimize losses and safeguard users in this dynamic ecosystem.
$ETH
#crypto #fraud

 
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

South Korean prosecutors have announced the identification of criminal proceeds totaling at least 410 billion won, while the amount of reimbursement reached 300 billion won. This revelation highlights the extent of criminal activity and the need for strong measures to combat it.

The prosecutors’ investigations have focused on a variety of criminal activities, including embezzlement, fraud, and money laundering. The funds that have been identified are believed to have been obtained through a range of illicit activities, such as the misappropriation of company funds or the sale of counterfeit goods.

The scale of the criminal activity uncovered by prosecutors is significant, with hundreds of billions of won being identified as criminal proceeds. This indicates the seriousness of the problem of financial crime in South Korea, and highlights the need for measures to combat it.

In addition to identifying the criminal proceeds, prosecutors have also been working to recover these funds. The amount of reimbursement reached 300 billion won, demonstrating the success of these efforts.

The recovery of these funds is a crucial step in combating financial crime, as it not only deprives criminals of their ill-gotten gains but also serves as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in similar activities.

Overall, the identification of criminal proceeds totaling at least 410 billion won and the recovery of 300 billion won in reimbursement is a significant development in the fight against financial crime in South Korea. The efforts of prosecutors to identify and recover these funds serve as an important reminder of the need for continued vigilance in the fight against financial crime.

#terra #luna #fraud #crime #dokwon

A new report issued by debtors of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX has shed light on the reasons behind the company's downfall. The report suggests that FTX's failure was caused by a combination of hubris and greed, which ultimately led to the exchange's demise.

The report, which was compiled by a group of FTX's former clients, highlights several key factors that contributed to the exchange's downfall. One of the main issues identified in the report was FTX's aggressive expansion strategy, which saw the exchange launch several new products and services in a short period of time.

According to the report, FTX's expansion was driven by a desire for rapid growth and a belief that the company could outpace its competitors. However, this approach proved to be unsustainable, and FTX's resources were stretched thin, leading to a decline in the quality of its services and a loss of customer confidence.

The report also suggests that FTX's leadership was driven by hubris, which led to poor decision-making and a failure to listen to feedback from clients and stakeholders. This was particularly evident in FTX's approach to risk management, which the report describes as "reckless" and "overly optimistic."

Finally, the report suggests that FTX's downfall was also driven by greed. According to the report, the exchange's management team was primarily focused on maximizing profits, often at the expense of the company's long-term sustainability. This approach led to a lack of investment in essential infrastructure and risk management systems, ultimately contributing to the exchange's downfall.

The report's findings raise important questions about the cryptocurrency industry's overall approach to risk management and sustainability. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that companies prioritize the long-term health of their businesses, rather than simply chasing short-term profits.

In response to the report, FTX has stated that it is committed to addressing the issues raised by its former clients and improving the quality of its services. The exchange has already taken several steps to improve its risk management systems and has announced plans to focus more on the long-term sustainability of its business.

Overall, the report's findings highlight the need for a more thoughtful and measured approach to cryptocurrency trading and investment. As the industry continues to mature, it will be essential for companies to prioritize the long-term health of their businesses, rather than simply chasing short-term gains.

#ftxcollapse #ftx #crypto #investors #fraud