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.“

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.“