On August 9, the X Twitter account of blockchain-focused venture capital firm Blockchain Capital was hacked by scammers aiming to deceive users with promises of a token giveaway. The account made multiple posts advertising the giveaway of “BCAP” tokens and directed users to a copycat website that mimicked the appearance of Blockchain Capital’s original site. The scammers strategically disabled commenting on the posts to prevent others from warning about the scam. Despite this, several X users managed to share warnings about the fraudulent attempt.
The copycat website, which closely resembled the original site with an additional “n” in the URL, urged users to connect their crypto wallets. This is a common tactic used by phishing scammers to trick users into signing malicious transactions that drain their funds. It is important to note that Blockchain Capital later regained control of the account and promptly deleted the scam posts.
This incident involving Blockchain Capital’s hacked account is one of many in the crypto space where scammers exploit the social media accounts of well-known figures to direct users to malicious sites. The FBI recently issued a warning about criminal actors taking over the social media accounts of prominent figures within the industry for this purpose. It is crucial for users to remain vigilant and exercise caution when engaging with any online promotions or giveaways.
Another instance of account hacking occurred on the hacked X Twitter account of pro-XRP lawyer Jeremy Hogan. A flood of scam posts appeared on his account, containing malicious links to a fake XRP giveaway. Similar to the Blockchain Capital incident, these posts remained active for several days before being removed.
Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao also fell victim to a hacking incident, where his X Twitter account was compromised. He took to social media to warn his 8.5 million followers about the increasing number of phishing attacks following the hack of Uniswap founder Hayden Adams’ X account. Zhao emphasized the importance of using hardware devices for authentication rather than text message-based two-factor authentication.
To protect yourself from falling victim to similar scams and phishing attempts, it is crucial to take proactive measures. Here are some recommendations for users:
- Be skeptical: Always approach online promotions and giveaways with skepticism, especially if they seem too good to be true. Verify the legitimacy of the offer before taking any action.
- Double-check URLs: Pay close attention to website URLs and ensure they match the official site. Fraudsters often create fake websites with similar URLs to deceive users.
- Secure your accounts: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your online accounts, and use hardware devices or authenticator apps instead of relying on text messages for verification codes.
- Stay informed: Follow trusted sources of information within the crypto space to stay updated on the latest scams and security threats. Regularly check for any warning or advisory issued by reputable organizations or individuals.
In conclusion, the recent hacking incident involving Blockchain Capital’s X account serves as a reminder of the growing threat of scams and phishing attempts within the crypto space. Users must remain vigilant and take proactive measures to protect themselves from falling victim to such fraudulent activities. By staying informed and adopting best practices for online security, users can reduce the risk of compromise and safeguard their crypto assets.
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