Crypto Scam Alert: Fraudsters Impersonate Forbes Journalists In Plot To Rob BAYC Holders
November 27 2023 - 5:00PM
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In the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) sector, scammers are constantly
devising new methods to exploit unsuspecting collectors. The latest
incident involves fraudsters posing as journalists from Forbes
magazine, specifically targeting Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT
holders. One BAYC owner, “Crumz,” recently shared his
encounter with these scammers, detailing the elaborate scheme
designed to steal his digital assets. BAYC Collector’s Close
Encounter With Scammers According to Crumz, the scam began when he
received a direct message on X (formerly Twitter) from someone
claiming to be a Forbes editor named Robert Lafranco.
Intrigued by the prospect of being featured in an article about
BAYC, Crumz proceeded cautiously, conducting a cursory online
search that seemingly confirmed the person’s identity. Unbeknownst
to him, the scammers had meticulously crafted a “facade of
credibility.” The supposed Forbes journalist informed Crumz of
their interest in gathering firsthand accounts from BAYC owners
regarding their experiences within the club. Despite initial
surprise at being approached, Crumz agreed to participate in a
scheduled Zoom call. Related Reading: Cosmos Co-Founder’s
Controversial Proposal Triggers 11% Plunge In ATOM Crumz further
stated that the scammers failed to show up for the initial call,
citing a fabricated family emergency as the reason for their
absence. They rescheduled the meeting for a later date. When the
rescheduled call finally took place, Crumz noticed several red
flags. The individuals on the call refused to activate their
cameras, claiming technical difficulties. Another person
claiming to be Steven Ehrlich, Forbes’ research director, joined
the conversation. Crumz shared his BAYC journey, recounting the
early days and highlighting the club’s unique features. During the
call, Crumz alleges that the scammers exhibited further suspicious
behavior. They lacked a premium Zoom account and insisted on using
multiple call links. Additionally, they requested permission
to record the screen using a separate recording bot. Although Crumz
initially thought nothing of it, alarm bells rang when they asked
him to find a banana and say something that resembled his Bored Ape
character. Unable to produce a banana on the spot, Crumz excused
himself momentarily, muting his screen. During this momentary
lapse, the scammers attempted to take control of his computer,
prompting him to intervene when they navigated to the website
delegate.cash. Ultimately, all of Crumz’s valuable NFTs were
securely stored in cold storage, safeguarding them from potential
theft. He promptly shut down his computer to ensure his safety,
hoping to sever any remote access the scammers may have gained.
Crumz concluded: Hopefully I’m safe now. Don’t think they can still
control my computer when I turn it back on. Please be safe out
there, it could’ve been a dreadful day today Decline In Sales And
Market Engagement BAYC has recently witnessed a notable decline in
various key metrics. The latest NFT data reveals a decrease in the
number of sales, sales volume, and primary sales. According to the
latest figures, the number of sales has seen a significant drop of
33.59%, with 87 sales reported at present compared to 131 sales
recorded the previous day. This decrease in sales has also
resulted in a decline in sales in USD, with a decrease of 38.02%.
The current sales volume is $2 million, compared to $3 million on
Sunday. Related Reading: The Dogecoin Surge: Unveiling The Catalyst
Behind Rising Transactions In terms of sales volume, primary sales
have experienced a 100% decrease, with no current sales reported.
In contrast, primary sales generated $12,000 in USD the previous
day. Secondary sales volume has also declined 37.76%, with the
current figure at $2 million, compared to $3 million from the
previous day. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from
TradingView.com
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