header banner
Default

How Over $15 Million in Crypto Was Stolen by This Scammer


A hacker has stolen over $15 million from crypto wallets by imitating the website of the HitBTC exchange.

The hackers cloned the exchange’s user interface to lure victims into connecting their wallets by clicking “Approve.”

HitBTC Lookalike Website Stole Funds

According to the crypto tracking platform MistTrack, hackers created a fake website, “hitb2c[.]lol,” to impersonate the original website, “hitbtc[.]com.”

After a user connects their wallet, the website will access their USDT token holdings. Or, the website asks users to deposit crypto at hackers’ addresses, and then the hacker will steal their funds.

Also, if the user clicks the confirm button on the pop-ups, they also lose their crypto. The hacker has so far stolen 52.2 Bitcoin (BTC), 242.0 USDT, 22.3 million Shiba Inu (SHIB), and 2,966.2 Ethereum (ETH).

On clicking the confirm button, the users will lose their ETH holdings.
Source: Twitter

Crypto Phishing on the Rise

VIDEO: I LOST $15M IN CRYPTO. My Life Changed FOREVER. Lessons To Learn!!!
That Martini Guy

The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky reported that crypto phishing incident grew by 40%, from 3,596,437 cases in 2021 to 5,040,520 in 2022. 

Bad actors use various techniques, like impersonating famous projects or personalities. They create scam Twitter handles by using a username that is similar to genuine projects to trick users.

Additionally, they use bots for mass tagging campaigns, eventually drawing people’s attention toward the phishing account.

Lastly, they redirect victims to a phishing website by giving airdrops, giveaways as bait. The screenshot below shows a scammer impersonating zkSync, to direct users to a fake website and eventually steal their crypto.

Notice the username is “zkskync,” which is similar to zksync.

A recent survey reported that one in three Americans have fallen victim to crypto theft.

A screenshot showing how bad actors use bots to steal crypto
Source: Twitter screenshot

Got something to say about crypto phishing or anything else? Write to us or join the discussion on our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on TikTok, Facebook, or Twitter.

For BeInCrypto’s latest Bitcoin (BTC) analysis, click here.

Disclaimer

VIDEO: JUST IN: $15 million (4.6k ETH) hacked and Stolen from Crypto.com
Alpha Wolf

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.

Sources


Article information

Author: Roger Stephens

Last Updated: 1704268203

Views: 1610

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (86 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roger Stephens

Birthday: 1931-01-22

Address: 749 Jefferson Motorway, South Joshua, VA 54269

Phone: +4505878938548042

Job: Medical Doctor

Hobby: Card Games, Stargazing, Coffee Roasting, Juggling, Metalworking, Painting, Hiking

Introduction: My name is Roger Stephens, I am a brilliant, dedicated, striking, spirited, ingenious, unyielding, important person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.