Reddit User Loses $250,000 in ETH to Crypto Airdrop Scam — How Can Investors Stay Safe?

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January 17, 2024 12:55 EST

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A Reddit user recently fell victim to an elaborate cryptocurrency phishing scam, losing the equivalent of $250,000 in ether (ETH) after responding to a fake airdrop.

The scam first came to light when the Redditor posted details of the incident on the social platform last December. In the post, the victim explained that they had 100 ETH deposited into Aave for lending purposes to generate interest. Shockingly, the user then noticed that 100 ETH had been transferred out of their account unknowingly.

Crypto Scam Transfers 100 ETH to Scammer’s Wallet

“I am shivering right now,” the post stated. “I had about 100 ETH deposited into Aave for lending to accrue interest and I just noticed that 100 AAVE ETH is transferred out of my account. Please help.”

The Redditor explained that the theft occurred after interacting with what appeared to be a legitimate Frames airdrop.

“This was a quarter million dollar life lesson I hope you learn from,” responded one user, urging more caution with fake airdrops. “Chasing pennies into dark alleys with a wallet full of hundreds…”

Airdrops are common events in which cryptocurrencies distribute free tokens into holders’ wallets. But fraudsters have increasingly used fake airdrops to phish credentials and siphon funds from unsuspecting victims.

The scammer’s wallet shows a pattern of sending worthless fake tokens to other wallets. But the 100 ETH theft was by far the biggest score for the bad actor.

Other successful scams linked to the same wallet include smaller amounts of tokens like PEPE, RIO, and PAAL.

Unfortunately, the Redditor was never able to recover their lost ETH, which is now worth over $250,000. The scammer’s wallet address has since been labeled as “Fake_Phishing270904” to warn other users of its shady activities.

How Investors Can Stay Protected

Here are some tips for investors to safeguard crypto assets against theft:

• Avoid interacting with suspicious links or websites
• Use secure and reputable crypto exchanges
• Enable 2-factor authentication on accounts
• Store the majority of holdings in cold storage or hardware wallets
• Keep seed phrases and passwords offline in secure locations
• Be wary of fake airdrops and giveaways
• In case of airdrop hunting, use burner wallets

As cryptocurrencies become more mainstream, users must exercise added caution against old and emerging crypto scam tactics. Taking preventative measures will help investors avoid the misfortune of the Reddit user who lost a quarter million dollars in ETH. Staying informed and alert is a crypto investor’s best defense.