The crypto space is under attack — again. If you’ve been in Web3 long enough, you’ve probably seen it: a DM from an “official” account on Telegram or X (formerly Twitter), urgently warning that your account has been compromised. They send you a link to “secure” it. One click, and boom — your credentials are gone, your accounts hijacked, and your project becomes the next domino to fall.
The Playbook: How They Get You
These phishing attacks aren’t just some amateur scams — they’re sophisticated, high-level social engineering tactics that have hit even the smartest players in the space. Here’s how it works:
- Fake Alerts — You get a message from someone pretending to be an official support team.
- Sense of Urgency — They tell you your account has been hacked and needs immediate action.
- Spoofed Links — They send you a near-identical but fake login page for X, Telegram, or your crypto wallets.
- Credential Theft — You log in, thinking you’re securing your account. In reality, you just handed over your keys.
- Takeover & Chaos — Your compromised account is used to spread the scam, drain funds, and disrupt projects.
Who’s Behind It?
Some of these attacks have been linked to Lazarus Group, North Korea’s infamous cybercrime syndicate, responsible for some of the largest crypto hacks in history. Their biggest hits include:
- $1.5B Bybit Exchange Heist (2025) — The biggest crypto hack ever.
- $625M Ronin Network Breach (2022) — A social engineering attack that nearly killed Axie Infinity.
- Countless Project Takeovers — From wallets to Web3 startups, they’ve left a trail of destruction.
Why Are They Targeting You?
Because your project has value. Whether it’s funds, influence, or community trust, they want to weaponize your credibility to push their next scam.
How to Protect Yourself & Your Community
✅ NEVER click on links from unsolicited DMs. If you didn’t request help, it’s probably a scam. ✅ ALWAYS verify the sender. Check usernames, account creation dates, and previous posts. ✅ Enable 2FA everywhere. And use hardware keys for critical accounts. ✅ Educate your team & community. Make security awareness a part of your culture.
Web3 isn’t for the weak. Stay paranoid, stay secure, and don’t be the next victim. 🏛️🧠