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Beware: Hackers entice Discord users with Bitcoin gifts
Are you or the children on Discord, on the chat platform designed for gamers?
Be careful.
A new study by security company Kaspersky, finds that hackers entice Discord users with gifts in Bitcoin.
Do not fall into the trap, as this is a sophisticated scam to steal money from you
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Bitcoin
fraud
Walla!
TECH
Wednesday, 10 February 2021, 10:17
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Investigators from the cyber company Kaspersky have discovered a new scam that has recently become common on the social network Discord.
The attackers who exploit the scam from sites use innocent Discord servers that are interested in cryptocurrencies and entice them to sign up for fake trading sites in exchange for a promise of free gifts like Bitcoin or Atherium - worth tens of thousands of dollars.
Victims are invited to sign up for a fake crypto exchange, where they are asked to provide their personal details in exchange for a code to download the prize - but this is, of course, a scam aimed at stealing their details.
Discord platform was originally created for gamers but its channels are used today for a wide range of discussions - from study groups to fan clubs, as well as users interested in the world of cryptocurrencies.
Discord is having heated discussions about the latest news, analyzes, forecasts and also recommendations on various trading sites and crypto exchanges.
And in some of the discussions, Kaspersky recognized that hackers hand out orders to these trading sites in exchange for prizes, and the generosity is explained as much as in their desire to generate traffic from investors and buyers on the new sites.
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Remember: There is no such thing as free gifts (Photo: ShutterStock)
The design of these sites looks sleek and professional, with tables, currency rates, rates and even purchase history, additional information and customer service - everything you would expect to find on a crypto exchange.
Browsing them is possible in several languages and they are compatible with the use of a smartphone.
They even offer an advanced layer of protection in the form of two-stage authentication and protection against phishing.
As soon as the invitation to register is received, the user "wins" the prize - the coveted code for uploading Bitcoin or Atherium to his new private account.
But in practice these stock exchanges are not real.
These are fake sites that only seem to be legitimate sites for trading cryptocurrencies, and the sleek design, the generous prize and even the layers of cyber protection - all just an appearance designed to increase the victims' sense of security and trust.
The last step in "registration" is another layer of deception.
In order to complete the registration process and receive "registered user" status, the victims are required to make a small deposit in crypto currency or pass a Know Your Customer verification check (KYC) - an accepted check in the worlds of cryptocurrencies: the site asks for contact information, photo ID Next to the ID card and paper on which are written the website address, registration date and signature.
Generally, most users would rather provide the details than deposit money.
Using Discord?
Beware of the new scam (Photo: PR, PR)
According to Kaspersky researchers, this kind of information may later reach forums in Decarnate - where personal information is traded, including ID photos - which increases the value of each black market entry.
Such details are usually sold for between $ 40 and $ 60.
But the scam does not end here: the prize for subscribers - Bitcoin or Atherium currency - is real;
almost.
It appears in the new account they opened on the counterfeit exchange, but in order to redeem the currency (withdraw it into their private digital wallet), the user is required to deposit a small amount of money in the account.
Of course even depositing this amount does not remove the hurdle and Bitcoin is left in the new account without being able to realize it.
"This is a very clever scam," explained Mikhail Sitnik, a security researcher at Kaspersky.
"The attackers made the commerce site look very authentic and they also manage to collect real money, and if not - users' personal details, including their ID number and photo, will be leaked to the darkroom where they will be sold for hacking, creating fake profiles and even identity theft."
How to protect yourself from fraud
Do not rely on strangers offering gifts online.
Do not share personal information with registration systems on sites that you do not trust one hundred percent.
Do not share your photo ID online under any circumstances.
Update discord privacy settings to avoid such tempting offers, which often turn out to be scams or attempted stings.
It is recommended to use security solutions from a reliable company, which warn not only against scams and phishing attempts but also protect your computer or phone from malware.
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