$ 94,742.2
BTC
1.16 %
$ 1,795.71
ETH
1.25 %
$ 0.7004
ADA
0.68 %
$ 604.72
BNB
0.35 %
$ 147.44
SOL
0.90 %

Guneet Kaur
Jun 14, 2022

Phishing Attacks in Crypto And How to Prevent Them

Phishing Attacks Crypto
The number of threats and attacks launched at networks and systems increases as Internet technologies advance. Attackers come up with new techniques to attack or improve on existing ones. One of the most common significant risks in the digital assets industry is crypto phishing attacks. Fraudsters try to obtain user credentials by sending phony emails, visiting bogus websites, or both to steal confidential information. Unfortunately, due to significant investments and gaps in national legislation, intruders are increasingly targeting blockchain companies using fake cryptocurrency lists, ultimately leading to phishing cryptocurrency.

If you want to know how to protect yourself from phishing emails, keep reading to find out the answer. In this article,  we will discuss how to detect phishing attacks, how to protect yourself from phishing attacks, tools to prevent phishing attacks, and how to spot a Bitcoin scammer.

What Are Crypto Phishing Attacks?

In order to understand how to prevent phishing in an organization, you need to know what exactly is a crypto phishing attack. In such attacks, private crypto wallet keys, which are required to access funds within the wallet, are the target of scammers. The fraudsters try to obtain such keys by sending a phishing email that sounds genuine at first but, in reality, is a scam. This can include selling beginner investors phantom cryptocurrencies that don't exist. Crypto phishing attacks can also occur via fake apps, giveaway scams, and pump and dump scams. A common example of an NFT phishing scam includes asking Discord users for their private keys as a new security measure. Spear phishing is a sort of phishing attack. Spear-phishing attack means fraudster targets a specific group or type of person, such as a crypto exchange's system administrator, to steal the private keys of traders.

How to Detect Phishing Attacks?

One way to spot a Bitcoin scammer or any other crypto heist can be to check for domain name alternations, typo errors, and dodgy project names. Also, if the sender asks you to send cryptocurrency on an urgent basis, it signifies a crypto phishing attack. So, are there any tools to prevent phishing attacks? The answer is yes! The best way to protect against a phishing attack or a Bitcoin scam is to invest in something you are sure of, save your private keys in a secret place, and keep your wallet app up-to-date.

Scammers that operate in the cryptocurrency space frequently utilize social media to publicize their deceptive schemes. To generate a sense of credibility, they may use unauthorized photographs of celebrities or high-profile crypto influencers or promise prizes or free money. Be aware of such tactics to fight against phishing cryptocurrency scams.

It's most likely fraud if someone reaches you out of the blue to sell you a crypto investment opportunity. During an incident, hundreds of NFTs were stolen from OpenSea users in February 2022, generating a late-night panic among the site's large user base. Never give your personal details or send money to someone who contacts you in this manner. Moreover, the best way to know how to protect yourself from phishing attacks is to rely upon official apps and documentation than looking elsewhere for the project information.

How to Spot a Bitcoin Scammer?

It's critical to examine the offer and determine whether it's reasonable. Making a 4,000 percent return on your investment in 3 months would be fantastic, but is it possible with this brand-new offer? No, not at all. So, this is how you can spot a Bitcoin or crypto scam. Another way cryptocurrency scammers loot victims is by spending a lot of money on advertising. However, genuine projects will grow and develop naturally and need not advertise or expand as quickly as those on the fake cryptocurrency lists.

You should be able to readily find out who is running a cryptocurrency, including every member of the team, just like you would with any other business or investment. If such information is not easily accessible such as on the project's white paper or lite paper, then you know it is nothing more than a scam.

Final Thoughts

Despite putting efforts to be safe in a digital world, if you still fall into the hands of phishing emails and end up making a payment or revealing personal information, you must act swiftly to avoid being a victim of a cryptocurrency scam or a crypto phishing attack. Contact your bank right away if you make a bank transfer, pay by credit or debit card, or divulge personal information about yourself. Additionally, you must report such frauds to the regulatory body in your jurisdiction.

Disclaimer: This article aims to educate readers about the mentioned subject matter. So, please avoid treating this information as financial advice or the only available protection measures. Instead, conduct your due diligence to protect yourself in a decentralized world.

Phishing Attacks in Crypto And How to Prevent Them
Guneet Kaur is a certified credit and securities analyst. She is MSc Fintech graduate (with distinction) from the University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom. Prior to MSC, she has also done MBA from GNDU (gold medal) and has worked as a global client and partner business manager with Singapore-based MNC. She has written various conference papers and has authored a book titled 'The Magic Of Compounding'. She was the Finalist of the Women in STEM-Lovelace Colloquium that was held in 2019 at the University of Salford, UK, and Royal Bank of Scotland's Hackathon in 2019. Her expertise includes financial modeling, Cryptocurrencies, DeFi, Blockchain, quantitative analysis, academic research, business valuation, business analysis, data visualization, financial fraud, and AML analysis.

Top Picks