https://www.msn.com/en-au/crime/general/aussies-targeted-in-crypto-text-scam/ar-AA1Bhcj9
Authorities identified more than 130 victims who have been alerted to the scam impersonating the Binance cryptocurrency exchange.
Targets were contacted by SMS and encrypted messaging platforms by scammers pretending to be a Binance representative claiming their cryptocurrency accounts had been breached.
“Anyone who received an SMS or email warning from the NASC must take it very seriously.
“If you have already transferred your cryptocurrency to a so-called trust wallet, report it to your bank or digital currency exchange immediately, then to police via ReportCyber quoting the reference number AFP-068.”
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair Catriona Lowe said impersonation scams had become common, and people must verify all communications they received, even where they appeared legitimate.
“Impersonation scams rely on people trusting that the text, email or phone call they get is legitimate and scammers go to significant lengths to create the appearance of legitimacy,” she said.
“We urge all Australians to contact an organisation directly using official contact details from their website or app to verify any communication they receive.”
Binance chief security officer Jimmy Su said protecting their users was Binance’s top priority, and education was key in the fight against scams.
“Scammers often impersonate trusted platforms – like Binance and others – by exploiting certain telecom loopholes to manipulate sender names and sender phone numbers to create urgency,” he said.
“To stay safe, always verify communications using Binance Verify – our tool to confirm official Binance channels.
“Never share sensitive information like your seed phrase or transfer funds under pressure. If in doubt, stop and verify through official sources.
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