Crypto User Loses $300K in Phishing Scam via Malicious Work Meeting Link

After reading about LeftsideEmiri’s heartbreaking loss of $300,000 from various wallets, I can’t help but feel a chill down my spine. This is a stark reminder that even the most cautious among us can fall victim to the cunning tactics of cybercriminals lurking in the digital world.


On the 6th of December, a user named “LeftsideEmiri” on the platform X disclosed that they incurred a loss of $300,000 as a result of engaging with a deceitful online meeting link involving a potential scam.

In this conversation, the person referred to the occurrence as a case of social manipulation, making clear that they hadn’t endorsed or carried out any transactions.

 $300K Lost In Attack

They shared that they never imagined it would occur, but unfortunately, it did,” the user stated, revealing a loss of $300,000 from several wallets. The user alleged that the ordeal started when they received a direct message on X, a widely-used messaging platform like KakaoTalk, which suggested a planned partnership discussion through a link to KakaoTalk.

Initially, the user stated that they thought the link was inactive after clicking it and disregarded it as safe. But now, they suspect it surreptitiously planted malware onto their system, potentially breaching their digital wallets.

Affected wallets encompass an Ethereum account and a Solana account, along with numerous other accounts that have been emptied out as well.

It’s been reported that an individual using the username “0xQwerky” on platform X is suspected of moving the illegally obtained funds to a wallet associated with the cryptocurrency trading platform BingX. User LeftsideEmiri has urged BingX to take action and possibly retrieve the stolen digital assets.

The user humbly requested for assistance from anyone who could lend a hand, as it would be much appreciated. Additionally, they cautioned the cryptocurrency community to exercise caution when encountering job interview links or receiving uninvited messages on social media platforms.

Experts Warn of Increasing Phishing Threats

The occurrence is anticipated, given that cybersecurity experts expect a rise in phishing attempts targeting cryptocurrencies throughout December.

Based on reports from security company Scam Sniffer specializing in Web3, phishing scams during November led to approximately $9.4 million in losses and impacted over 9,200 investors. A significant example occurred when a single individual lost around $661,000 worth of stETH within mere minutes, with the firm characterizing this as just the beginning of the issue.

On the platform, it’s been emphasized that harmful digital signatures associated with blockchain remain the most significant danger for cryptocurrency users. Crooks exploit these methods to trick people into approving sham transactions, thereby giving them complete power over the users’ virtual wallets and leading to substantial financial losses.

In January 2024, a phishing scheme led to the theft of approximately $4.2 million in aEthWETH and aEthUNI. The culprits exploited ERC-20 permissions to circumvent security notifications and seize control over the victims’ assets.

A more recent exploit in October saw a crypto investor lose 15,079 fwdETH, worth approximately $36 million, in a permit phishing scam. According to Scam Sniffer, the bad actor deceived the individual into signing a malicious signature, gaining unrestricted access to their funds.

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2024-12-07 07:34