In 2022, the collapse of Terra caused crypto traders to become wary of investing, leading scammers to pivot towards free giveaways and romance scams. Despite a 46% drop in scam revenue during the crypto winter, scammers have managed to adapt and thrive in the bear market by exploiting unsuspecting consumers.
Eric Jardine, the cybercrimes research lead at blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis, revealed how scammers adjust their tactics in response to market conditions. By sub-classifying scams into different types, Jardine and his team identified distinct patterns in scam behaviour during the bear market.
Jardine presented data showing that when investment scams became less effective, romance and giveaway scams increased. This indicates that scammers are not simply repeating the same script over and over but are able to adjust their tactics based on the market situation. Scammers are able to adapt to market conditions and change their tactics to target different emotional triggers.
The prevalence of romance and giveaway scams is alarming, but Jardine also highlighted the significant impact of a multi-level marketing scheme on the staggering $5.9 billion lost to scams in 2022. The Hyperverse scam accounted for approximately 22% of the total scam revenue for that year, equating to a whopping $1.3 billion.
Jardine's research underscores the importance of understanding the different types of crypto scams and how they behave in different market conditions. Investors can better protect themselves from falling victim to fraudulent schemes by staying up-to-date on the latest scams and tactics.
In the face of increasingly sophisticated and pervasive cybercrime, individuals and organizations alike must take proactive measures to protect themselves from falling victim to such scams. By staying informed and adopting best practices for online security, we can help to mitigate the devastating impact of cybercrime on our lives and our economy. Vigilance and awareness are essential in the fight against crypto scams.
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