Blast

Wonder

2024

Impact

Security

<h4><strong>In crypto, the most significant players—”crypto whales”—often have the most to lose. Holding vast digital assets, these whales become prime targets for phishing scams. The Blast Network attack shows how advanced and cunning these scams have become. </strong></h4>
<p>Recent hackers use near-perfect clones of websites, emails, and messages to deceive even experienced crypto users. Now, let’s look at how these <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=phishing+attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">phishing attacks</a> operate and why crypto whales are in their sights. We will also look into how to prevent and mitigate such attacks.</p>
<h5><strong>Why are Phishing Attacks Aimed at Crypto Whales?</strong></h5>
<p><a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=Crypto+whales" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Crypto whales</a> are giant players measuring many cryptocurrencies’ thousands or millions in value. They attract scammers because of their digital assets and wallet content costs. Here is a good explanation about it:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f4d6.png" alt="📖" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> EXPLAINED: Wonder how phishing attacks target crypto whales?</p>
 <p>In the vast ocean of cryptocurrency, the largest holders – known as “whales” – are increasingly finding themselves targeted by sophisticated predators. The recent Blast Network case has shed light on just how… <a href="https://t.co/1zTtYkYeMI" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/1zTtYkYeMI</a></p>
 <p>— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cointelegraph/status/1854803672468738238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">November 8, 2024</a></p>
</blockquote>
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<p>Here’s why they’re in the crosshairs:</p>
<ul>
 <li><strong>Big Money, Big Attraction: </strong>Information in public blockchains enables scammers to predict wallets holding high balances, which makes them favorable and profitable. Swinging a whale is much more profitable than going for the little fish, the next level up in the scamming hierarchy.</li>
 <li><strong style="color: var(--td_text_color, #111111); font-family: var(--td_default_google_font_2, 'Roboto', sans-serif); font-size: 16px;">Regular Interaction with Crypto Services: </strong>Large-volume exchanges always occur between whales, <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=wallets" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">wallets</a>, and other services. A scammer can intercept a false message or a fake link. A crypto whale that does regular transactions may be more likely to fall for a phishing attempt that looks real.</li>
 <li><strong style="color: var(--td_text_color, #111111); font-family: var(--td_default_google_font_2, 'Roboto', sans-serif); font-size: 16px;">Clever Impersonations: </strong>Scammers in the crypto space are pros at impersonation. They’ll pose as trusted companies or even crypto influencers to get whales to let their guard down. Users can fall for it without being careful if the offer appears genuine enough.</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>What Are Phishing Attacks?</strong></h5>
<p><a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=phishing+attack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Phishing cases</a> are frauds performed when the hacker makes you disclose confidential information like private keys and passwords. In the usual phishing approaches, you may receive an email like the one from your bank asking you to change the password. The email links to a site that looks official but fake.</p>
<p>Once you enter your info, it goes straight to the scammers. In crypto, phishing works the same way—only now, hackers are targeting your digital wallet instead of your bank account.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f6a8.png" alt="🚨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> ScamSniffer October Phishing Report<br> In October, approximately 12K victims lost $20.2 million to crypto phishing scams.</p>
 <p>This marks a 56% decrease in stolen funds compared to September, while victim count increased by 20%.</p>
 <p><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f9f5.png" alt="🧵" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> [1/9] <a href="https://t.co/s7yTffNQXu" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/s7yTffNQXu</a></p>
 <p>— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/realScamSniffer/status/1853736522052464833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">November 5, 2024</a></p>
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<p>Here’s how they do it:</p>
<h6><strong>Fake Websites</strong></h6>
<p>These look identical to well-known crypto exchanges or wallets. You might think you’re on the official site if you need to pay more attention.</p>
<h6><strong>Phishing Emails or Messages</strong></h6>
<p>These messages might claim to be from a crypto service you use and ask you to verify your account or respond to an urgent request.</p>
<h6><strong>Social Engineering</strong></h6>
<p>This type of phishing builds up a fake persona that people would expect to not harm them, such as a customer service bot or a popular BTC holder.</p>
<h5><strong>The Blast Network Case</strong></h5>
<p>The recent <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=Blast+Network" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Blast Network</a> event indicates phishing attacks are harmful to crypto whales. Blast Network is an Ethereum Layer-2 protocol through which people can earn interest on their assets. Recently, one of the giant whales fell for a phishing scam, which led to this whale losing about $35 million in assets.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 <p dir="ltr" lang="en"><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f6a8.png" alt="🚨" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> 5 hours ago, someone lost 15,079 fwDETH($35M) after signing a “permit” phishing signature.<img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/15.0.3/72x72/1f4b8.png" alt="💸" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;"> <a href="https://t.co/YG6KlgWMtv" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/YG6KlgWMtv</a></p>
 <p>— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/realScamSniffer/status/1844590237521203610?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">October 11, 2024</a></p>
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<p>Here’s what happened:</p>
<h6><strong>Deceptive Permit</strong></h6>
<p>The scammer convinced the whale to sign a fake “permit” message, which he used to steal 15,079 units of Wrapped Ethereum (fwDETH) from the whale’s wallet.</p>
<h6><strong>Market Impact</strong></h6>
<p>This attack saw the price of fwDETH plummet from $2,000 to $100, upset Blast Network users. Although the price bounced back a little, the destruction in market value and consumers’ confidence was well pronounced.</p>
<p>This case highlights a vulnerability in <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/?s=defi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">decentralized finance</a> (DeFi): permission-based signatures. These signatures allow users to sign a transaction without exposing their private keys to anyone. Although they are easy to use, scammers can also use them to get users to sign unfavorable requests.</p>
<h5><strong>Phishing: How to Avoid It</strong></h5>
<p>If you’re a crypto whale or anyone with crypto assets, here’s how you can keep yourself safe from phishing attacks:</p>
<h6><strong>1) Use a Hardware Wallet</strong></h6>
<p>Hardware wallets keep your wallet information offline, so hackers cannot deceive you into giving them access to your money through phishing. Your hardware wallet will be safe if you accidentally end up on the wrong site.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 <p dir="ltr" lang="en">How do you protect yourself from crypto scams?</p>
 <p>We’ve put together a video summarising the most common scams, including phishing and SIM swap attacks, along with tips on how to avoid them.</p>
 <p>Watch the full video: <a href="https://t.co/QRONlz0oJL" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://t.co/QRONlz0oJL</a> <a href="https://t.co/zTUsqWhBgY" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/zTUsqWhBgY</a></p>
 <p>— CoinGecko (@coingecko) <a href="https://twitter.com/coingecko/status/1810267595762733225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">July 8, 2024</a></p>
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<h6><strong>2) Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)</strong></h6>
<p>Another layer to enhance the account’s security is two-factor verification in case someone gets your password.</p>
<h6><strong>3) Check URLs</strong></h6>
<p>Another feature is the presence of the actual domain names of the sites that the phishers mimic as links; however, they are only one or two characters away from the original sites’ URLs. Before entering your data, always confirm the website’s URL.</p>
<h6><strong>4) Avoid Unsolicited Messages</strong></h6>
<p>Be cautious if you receive unexpected messages claiming to be from crypto services. If you need clarification, contact the company through official channels to confirm.</p>
<h5><strong>What to Do If A Phishing Attack Targets you</strong></h5>
<p>If you suspect you’re under attack or have clicked on a phishing link, here’s how to respond:</p>
<ul>
 <li><strong>Disconnect Your Wallet: </strong>If you use a hardware wallet, unplug it immediately. If you have a software wallet, transfer your assets to a secure wallet.</li>
 <li><strong>Report to Exchanges and Authorities: </strong>If the affected wallet is on a centralized exchange, inform the exchange about the hack and report the scam to the relevant authorities.</li>
 <li><strong style="color: var(--td_text_color, #111111); font-family: var(--td_default_google_font_2, 'Roboto', sans-serif); font-size: 16px;">Get Help from Security Experts: </strong>Consider contacting blockchain security companies. They can investigate the attack, trace the scammer’s addresses, and help you recover your assets if possible.</li>
 <li><strong style="color: var(--td_text_color, #111111); font-family: var(--td_default_google_font_2, 'Roboto', sans-serif); font-size: 16px;">Review Your Se</strong><strong style="color: var(--td_text_color, #111111); font-family: var(--td_default_google_font_2, 'Roboto', sans-serif); font-size: 16px;">curity Practices: </strong>Strengthen your security procedures with help from cybersecurity experts who can identify and fix vulnerabilities.</li>
</ul>
<h5><strong>Conclusion</strong></h5>
<p>Crypto whales must stay vigilant, use hardware wallets, double-check URLs, and avoid sharing private keys. Phishing scams are evolving, but whales can remain safe by monitoring security practices and using secure wallets.</p>
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<h6><strong>Disclaimer</strong></h6>
<p>The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted levels of risk tolerance of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may be different from yours.</p>
<p>We are not responsible for any losses you may incur due to any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments, so please do your due diligence.</p>
<p>Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/bitcoin-and-crypto-guide/how-crypto-whales-become-phishing-targets/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">How Crypto Whales Become Phishing Targets</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.altcoinbuzz.io" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Altcoin Buzz</a>.</p>

How Crypto Whales Become Phishing Targets

Altcoin Buzz

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