A new and highly sophisticated wave of phishing scams is sweeping the crypto sector, zeroing in on Coinbase customers with alarming precision.
Unlike older scams relying on obvious misspellings or poorly written emails, this latest campaign leverages stolen personal information and fear tactics—posing a serious threat as scammers grow bolder and more convincing.
Recently, a TikTok user known as Steve (@tripiville) brought widespread attention to the scam by sharing his personal ordeal. The scam began with a voicemail from an apparent Coinbase automated system, soon followed by a call from a US-based number. The caller sounded like a genuine American customer support agent, claimed urgent account alerts, and referenced Steve’s real name, email, and phone number—details likely obtained from a recent insider data leak at Coinbase.
@tripiville Scam public service announcement for coinbase. Be aware people. #scamalert🚨🚨🚨 #coinbase #scam #psa ♬ original sound – Steve
What sets this phishing campaign apart is its use of official-looking emails and credible language. Steve reported that even the emails he received truly appeared to be from Coinbase.com, further lowering his guard. The scammer then directed him to a sophisticated phishing site, mirroring Coinbase’s interface and even displaying reputable wallet logos such as MetaMask. Users were prompted to disconnect third-party wallets and enter sensitive passkeys—creating a dangerous but convincing illusion of security intervention.
These attacks prey on users’ fear, creating a sense of emergency. The caller insisted on immediate action to “protect” the account, echoing the typical playbook used by fraudsters in crypto-related social engineering attacks: use urgency and official-looking communication to push victims into revealing credentials or 2-factor authentication codes.
Meanwhile, Fred Ehrsam, the co-founder of Coinbase and Paradigm, has secured $100 million in funding for his new startup, aiming to develop brain-computer interface (BCI) technology.
This ambitious venture seeks to create devices that facilitate direct communication between the human brain and computers, potentially revolutionizing how people interact with digital environments.
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