Recently, the cryptocurrency industry has entered a new round of frenzy, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and various meme coins and altcoins experiencing unprecedented surges.
Some people easily earned a luxury car and a large apartment overnight. But how long this boom can last is still uncertain.
As the cryptocurrency space fell into madness, we should also be wary of various new scams. Below, let’s review the top ten cryptocurrency scams of 2024:
1. Impersonating Binance Customer Service Scam
Scammers impersonated Binance customer service representatives, contacting users through social media and tricking them into sharing login information or wallet access.
These scammers used platforms like Instagram and Telegram, claiming they could help solve account issues or ensure investment safety, leading victims to phishing websites that collected sensitive information.
Once the scammers gained access, they would quickly drain the victims' wallets.
2. Inflating DIO Token Prices
In 2021, FractureLabs launched the DIO token to support its blockchain games and partnered with cryptocurrency trading firm JumpTrading to promote the token's market introduction.
Jump agreed to act as a market maker, providing liquidity to ensure smooth trading and price stability for the DIO token. As part of the agreement, FractureLabs lent Jump 10 million DIO tokens, worth about $500,000 at the time. Jump then assisted in listing the DIO token on the cryptocurrency exchange Huobi (now HTX).
As the price of the DIO token continued to rise, Jump sold all its holdings at the peak price, causing the value of the DIO token to plummet sharply.
In October of this year, FractureLabs sued JumpTrading, accusing the company of breaching the agreement and manipulating the DIO token.
3. Fake XRP Scam
In 2024, scammers took advantage of the excitement surrounding Ripple's recent legal victory to launch a fake XRP token.
Scammers impersonated Ripple's CEO, using social media ads to promote generous XRP rewards celebrating Ripple's success. Victims were directed to phishing sites where they either sent XRP for 'verification' or connected their wallets, granting scammers access.
Ripple quickly issued a warning, but the scam persisted, using platforms like X and YouTube for wider dissemination.
4. Froggy Coin Airdrop Scam
In early 2024, the Froggy Coin scam showcased a typical decentralized finance (DeFi) scam.
Froggy Coin was marketed as a meme token, targeting social media users with a playful brand and promises of quick returns. Developers heavily promoted the token on platforms like social media X and the content community Reddit, presenting it as a community-driven project.
Initial investors funded the liquidity pool, boosting the value and credibility of Froggy Coin. When the developers believed they had accumulated enough funds, they withdrew, leading to depleted liquidity and a sharp drop in token value.
5. Adam Brothers $60 Million Crypto Ponzi Scheme
In 2024, the Ponzi scheme led by the Adam brothers deceived investors with promises of high returns through a nonexistent crypto trading bot.
The Adam brothers attracted investors by promoting a 13.5% monthly return, claiming their bot could exploit price differences across exchanges. However, the bot was a scam. They did not trade but used new investments to pay returns to early investors, maintaining the illusion of profitability.
The $60 million they raised was mostly used to buy luxury goods, including expensive cars and a $30 million apartment. As the scam was exposed, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the brothers, seeking to freeze their assets and impose fines.
6. MetaMask Phishing Scam
In 2024, a phishing scam targeted MetaMask users through Google Play ads.
Scammers cloned an advertisement for a MetaMask wallet application page, creating a nearly pixel-perfect copy of the original page. As long as users entered their private keys or seed phrases, their wallets would be stolen.
The scale of the attack prompted MetaMask to issue a public warning, and some cybersecurity organizations began tracking the malicious domains. However, the attackers continued to register new domains to evade blocking.
7. Crypto Loan Aid Scam
In 2024, the crypto loan aid scam elevated money laundering tactics to a new level.
Scammers recruited unsuspecting participants by offering lucrative 'loan' processing jobs. Victims were often job seekers or those eager to make quick money, acting as intermediaries to transfer funds between wallets.
Scammers referred to this behavior as 'repaying loans.' In reality, the scammers were using participants to launder money. Many victims realized they had been scammed after investigations, facing legal consequences and the risk of account freezes.
8. SIM Card Swapping Scam
In 2024, a series of SIM card swapping scams targeted cryptocurrency holders across North America, resulting in millions of dollars in stolen assets. On the operational level, scammers used technical means to transfer victims' phone numbers to new SIM cards, allowing them to intercept two-factor authentication (2FA) codes and gain access to cryptocurrency accounts.
This attack jeopardized over 1,500 accounts, resulting in losses exceeding $1 million.
9. LinkedIn Job Scam
Cryptocurrency job seekers on LinkedIn became targets of scams.
Scammers posed as recruiters from well-known cryptocurrency companies, promising 'cryptocurrency investment analyst' positions, engaging in detailed chats with job seekers, and ultimately requesting small cryptocurrency transfers during the onboarding process. Once the funds were transferred, they immediately went offline.
Scammers replicated LinkedIn profiles with company logos to make their identities appear more legitimate.
10. Forged Famous NFTs
Bored Ape Yacht Club is a formerly popular NFT.
Scammers replicated Bored Ape NFT images and made subtle adjustments, such as flipping the image or changing colors, making them appear legitimate at first glance.
The scammers then listed these replicas on NFT marketplaces, disguising them as high-priced NFTs for sale. Once discovered to be replicas, the scammers would remove the forgeries.
Buyers who originally thought they were investing in valuable collectibles eventually realized that their assets were worthless.
#MEME趋势风向 #BTC何时突破10万?