Have you ever "swapped" or "traded" currency?
Have you ever made a transaction via the blockchain?
Well your wallet could be a risk!
-But only if you are not thinking and acting impulsively!
Here's a story:
Its a normal day, and you decide you wanna swap your currency for a different crypto currency.. You make the swap you get the currency... but then boom, a random NFT/Token appears from the unknown, and from an unknown sending address, and the NFT/Token seems to be an "Airdrop Reward". You also noticed that this "reward" was also from a different cryptocurrency (chain) entirely!
Question is.. Would you go to the website that's tied to this "Airdrop Reward" or would you hide/burn this reward? Would curiosity or impulsiveness cause you to to check out the website, even if it leads to a messaging app such as Telegram?
Scams will often link to links to hide their identities and to cause themselves to "look" more appealing so that you'll trust to click on their scams. Example:
-"Airdrop Reward" will lead you to a "Telegram" group with thousands of (fake) followers.
- Within the group, the scam will say something such as "click this link and connect your wallet"
- When you go to the link, the site might look legit, but they probably already have your IP address now (unless you are using a VPN or something similar)
- When you click the button to connect your wallet, and then push allow, the scammers then have access to your funds and are able to drain your wallet (steal your funds).
How this Happens:
Most Likely Scenario:
- You bought $20 of "Your Chosen Currency"
- From someone named "(address you received from)" (person/platform/exchange)
- Scammers saw this transaction (blockchain is public)
- Scammers sent you "Airdrop Reward" (phishing bait)
- Airdrop links to fake Wallet site (to drain your wallet)
The Scam Pattern:
Real transaction (Crypto purchase)
↓
Scammers monitor blockchain
↓
Target active wallets with funds
↓
Send phishing airdrop ("Airdrop Reward")
↓
Airdrop directs to fake site (usually is an odd looking URL link with "red flags" within it, giving it away that its a scam)
↓
Victim connects wallet → DRAINED
Now that you know this information, stay safe! As long as you don't give wallet access to apps and websites that you are unsure of, your wallet should stay safe!
