- Scammers exploit OpenSea users with fake NFT events, risking wallet compromise; warnings issued.
- Cryptocurrency fines surge to $6 billion in 2023; Binance faces $4.3 billion penalty.
- U.S. regulator vows crackdown on crypto exchanges breaking laws; Binance CEO admits charges.
According to reports from the Financial Times, in a recent phishing attempt, scammers targeted users of the promin, ent non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea. The deceptive email, appearing to be from OpenSea, falsely promised an exclusive mint event involving RTFKT and Nike.
The email, titled “Exclusive Invitation: RTFKT x Nike Dunk Genesis RBOT CRYPTOKICKS Minting Event!” claimed that the recipient, among 400 selected customers, could participate in a limited edition NFT collaboration. The provided link, “Mint RTEKT Now,” raised alarms, potentially leading users to a malicious website attempting to compromise their wallet information or funds.
Among those who received the fraudulent email was MasterJew.eth, co-founder of the ApeFathersNFT project, who promptly alerted the public about the scam on X.
Despite the enticing nature of the email, it exhibited several red flags indicative of a scam. OpenSea, being the largest and most popular NFT marketplace, has historically been a target for phishing attacks due to the growing interest in NFTs. Past incidents include a similar phishing email in November and a notable $2 million loss in NFTs in February 2022.
OpenSea advises users to exercise vigilance, avoiding suspicious emails or messages requesting funds or wallet connections. Reporting phishing emails to email providers or social media platforms and checking the official OpenSea website for notifications can help prevent further incidents.
Shifting the focus to the broader cryptocurrency market recent data reveals that crypto and digital payments companies incurred nearly $6 billion in fines in 2023. Fines stemmed from deficiencies in customer checks, anti-money laundering controls, and violations of sanctions to combat financial crime.
The crypto industry’s fines, totaling $5.8 billion last year, exceeded those of the traditional financial system. Notably, Binance faced a substantial $4.3 billion penalty, characterized as one of the largest corporate fines in U.S. history.
While the overall fines for money laundering and financial crime violations rose over 30% to $6.6 billion, the figure remains below the 2015 peak of $11.3 billion. Crypto businesses faced an increased number of fines in 2023, with 11 reported, compared to an average of less than two per year over the past five years.
U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero affirmed the regulator’s commitment to pursuing cryptocurrency exchanges that violate the law. This follows admissions of charges against Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to crack down on exchanges that allow its users to bend and skip the KYC rules. CZ later responded to the complaint expressing disappointment and disputing many of the issues alleged.
