Recently, there has been a cryptocurrency scam disguised as Coinbase customer service, utilizing high-end phishing techniques, specifically targeting company CEOs, CFOs, and software engineers, among other high-net-worth individuals. The goal is to transfer the victims' funds into wallets controlled by the scammers, who also disclosed their target is to achieve a monthly income of $100,000.
Fraud techniques are not hidden, forged notifications plus malicious links
According to reports, some company executives, after receiving scam calls, turned the tables to try to fish out the operational details of the scam group. The scammers claimed their main tactic is to impersonate Coinbase customer service and notify victims that their 'password change request has been canceled', while providing notifications that contain malicious links, aiming to lure victims into transferring funds to wallets controlled by the scammers instead of directly stealing passwords.
Looking down on the poor, the minimum scam threshold is $50,000
The scammers admitted that they look down on the poor and specifically target 'wealthy individuals'. They obtain victim information from certain databases, such as user data from Unchained Capital, etc. The scammers bluntly stated, 'We look down on the poor; the minimum threshold in the database is individuals with assets exceeding $50,000.'
In addition, the scammers also use a tool called auto-doxxer to further obtain victims' personal information, disguising the email source as the well-known cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to increase credibility.
Mixers plus Monero, a good helper for handling stolen funds
The scammers even revealed that they use decentralized tools like the mixer Tornado Cash to launder money, and sometimes convert stolen funds into privacy-focused cryptocurrency Monero to evade tracking. They do not use any exchanges that require identity verification (KYC) and manage their holdings through cold wallets like Ledger. If stolen funds need to be converted into fiat currency, they use third-party intermediaries to cover up the flow of stolen funds.
Current state of scams and future goals, aiming for a monthly income of $100,000
The scammers finally stated that cryptocurrency scams are like 'a chaotic market similar to pioneering in the American West.' Their current goal is to achieve a monthly income of $100,000, and they even mock company executives who receive their calls, saying, 'If you lost $30,000 to $40,000, who would you turn to? The cryptocurrency police?' It's quite absurd.
(October craziness in crypto scams, global crypto market hacked for $129 million in one month)
This article disguises as Coinbase customer service: Crypto scammers reveal they 'specifically target wealthy individuals', aiming for a monthly income of $100,000, first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.