Group-IB specialists uncovered more than 50 different schemes of fake investment projects created by scammers. The criminals are targeting potential investors in cryptocurrencies, equities, gold and other assets. ForkLog told Group-IB.
Analysts described this type of fraud as “hybrid schemes” — alongside traditional phishing, fake mobile apps are used, as well as calls from “personal consultants”. The common feature of such projects is the promise of quick profits with little effort.
From the scheme’s active spread since 2018 until the third quarter of 2021, Group-IB specialists identified more than 8,000 domains linked to fraudulent schemes.
In spring 2021, adverts in social networks circulated on behalf of well-known figures who allegedly offered participation in ultra-profitable investment projects. The creator of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was most often featured in fake posts.
“As soon as a novice investor bites on the ‘bait’, he is directed to a questionnaire site from a ‘well-known bank’ or to colorful single-page landing pages of an investment project. Usually, all of them are connected with trading ‘crypto’, fiat currencies, precious metals, minerals, natural resources, pharmaceuticals,” noted analysts.
Subsequently a “personal consultant” contacts the victims and persuades them to deposit on the platform, or may request bank card details.
Experts also detected a fully automated scheme — from a social media advertisement the investor is directed to GooglePlay, where he must download a dedicated mobile app to begin trading.
As a result, victims lose funds without receiving the promised income.
In December, criminals posing as investments in crypto assets extorted 3 million rubles from a resident of Kemerovo.
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