U.S. prosecutors filed five civil-forfeiture complaints seeking approximately $26.4 million in cryptocurrency linked to international fraud, including investment and romance scams, with launderers primarily in Southeast Asia. The process aims to freeze assets and eventually repay victims, though final disposition is pending.
Scammers are sending sophisticated fake X (formerly Twitter) login notification emails that closely mimic legitimate alerts to trick users into revealing their passwords or granting malicious app access. Cybersecurity experts advise users to avoid clicking links and instead check the official app for security issues.
Crypto scams increasingly use ATMs and kiosks as the final step, turning them into a pressure point. The FBI reported over $11 billion lost to crypto scams, with kiosks involved in thousands of complaints and hundreds of millions in losses, disproportionately affecting those over 50.
A widespread crypto scam on Meta's Threads app uses fake Mr Beast news screenshots and obscure URLs to promote over 10,000 malicious crypto casino websites. Security researchers Zach Edwards and Mark Beare note the scam's unusual tactics, designed to evade Meta's detection systems and exploit the Threads algorithm for visibility, raising questions about the platform's enforcement effectiveness.
An 86-year-old Ontario woman, Judy Skene, lost over $900,000 to a cryptocurrency scam using a deepfake video of Mark Carney. She invested her life savings, including a mortgage on her condo, after seeing the fake ad on Facebook.
Gay OnlyFans creators are being targeted by crypto scams on X, where hackers steal their accounts, demand ransom in crypto, and post political propaganda or crypto-related content. Patrick Bewley's account was hijacked and filled with MAGA posts, while others faced similar threats and financial repercussions.
TRM Labs warns crypto scammers are targeting FIFA World Cup fans with fake ticketing sites, fixed-match betting, and event-themed promotions. The FBI and FIFA have also issued warnings about fraudulent websites and unofficial ticket sales ahead of the 2026 tournament.
A Canadian teen, Trenton Richard Johnston, pleaded guilty to a $13 million crypto scam involving social engineering. He impersonated tech firm employees to steal funds, which he used for a lavish lifestyle in Miami and Los Angeles, including luxury cars and private jets.
Hong Kong's monetary authority warned on April 28 that tokens bearing the tickers 'HKDAP' and 'HSBC' appeared in the market without being issued by licensed stablecoin issuers. Both HSBC and Anchorpoint, which received the HKMA's first stablecoin licenses on April 10, confirmed they haven't launched any regulated stablecoins yet. The scam exploits institutional trust built over generations rather than promising unrealistic returns.
Une opération européenne conjointe avec Europol, Eurojust et FBI a démantelé un réseau criminel international qui blanchissait avec la crypto L’article Crypto scams : Dubaï, FBI et Europe frappent fort contre les réseaux est apparu en premier sur Journal du Coin.
Dubai police, in joint operation with FBI and China's Ministry of Public Security, arrested 276 individuals and shut down at least nine crypto scam centers. Six defendants have been charged with federal fraud and money laundering in San Diego, facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Separately, European authorities arrested 10 people in Albania connected to three scam centers with 450 employees, causing an estimated 58 million euros in losses.
A crypto founder had his laptop compromised when he joined what appeared to be a Microsoft Teams call with Pierre Kaklamanos, a Cardano Foundation contact he had spoken with before. When “Pierre” reached out about Atrium and sent a Teams invite, nothing looked out of place. On the call, the face and voice matched what […] The post OpenAI’s new image model shows why crypto scams are about to get much worse appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Two Chinese nationals face U.S. charges for managing the Shunda Park compound in Myanmar where workers were forced to conduct cryptocurrency investment fraud scams. Huang Xing Shan and Jiang Wen Jie are accused of wire fraud conspiracy for their roles at the industrial-scale operation seized in November 2025. Both suspects are in Thai custody after being arrested for immigration violations. The FBI interviewed former workers who said they were held against their will and forced to scam victims under threat of violence.
Kok An, a Cambodian senator, is accused of running a massive crypto crime operation through his many resorts and casinos.
Apple announced John Ternus will succeed Tim Cook as CEO by September 2026, just as cybersecurity researchers uncovered a wave of fraudulent crypto wallet apps in the App Store. Kaspersky identified 26 apps impersonating major crypto brands including MetaMask, Ledger, Trust Wallet, and Coinbase, linked to a campaign called SparkKitty. American musician G. Love lost 5.9 Bitcoin (~$436,000) via a fake Ledger app. The timing presents Ternus with an immediate security challenge to Apple's 'walled garden' reputation.
Crypto scammers are exploiting confusion around the Strait of Hormuz by posing as Iranian authorities and demanding bitcoin or tether payments from stranded ships. Greek maritime risk management company MARISKS issued the first warning on April 20, alerting shipowners to fraudulent transit fee demands. About 2,000 ships and 20,000 mariners remain stranded near the strait, where shipping traffic has effectively halted since US and Israeli airstrikes began on February 28. At least one ship may have fallen victim to the scam after being fired upon while attempting to pass through.
The latest geopolitical risk to crypto from the Strait of Hormuz has come via radio from a tanker under fire. “Sepah Navy, Sepah Navy, this is Motor Vessel Sanmar Herald. You gave me clearance to go. My name is second name on your list. You gave me clearance to go. You are firing now. Let […] The post Oil tanker attacked after falling for crypto scam granting fake Strait of Hormuz safe passage appeared first on CryptoSlate.
