A new phishing scam has emerged, targeting Sony’s blockchain ecosystem, Soneium, by exploiting Google’s ad service to deceive users and drain their cryptocurrency wallets.
Scam Sniffer, a fraud detection service, initially flagged the scam on X (formerly Twitter), warning users about the deceptive ads.
The scammers allegedly manipulated Google’s search results, placing a malicious link at the top when users search for “Soneium.” Although the link appears legitimate, displaying as “soneium.org,” users are redirected to a fraudulent website, “someium.org,” that mimics the official site. This nearly identical copy makes it challenging for users to detect the scam.
Once on the fake site, users are prompted to connect their cryptocurrency wallets. However, instead of accessing Soneium’s legitimate platform, their funds are stolen upon interaction.
The fraud detection platform also noted that a misspelled search query, such as typing “Someium” instead of “Soneium,” can lead users to the same fraudulent link, further complicating the situation for unsuspecting individuals.
This scam is part of a broader trend of cybercriminals leveraging Google Ads and creating look-alike websites to steal from cryptocurrency users. ScamSniffer previously reported that, since April 2023, more than $4 million has been stolen globally through phishing schemes promoted via Google Ads. Their analysis of blockchain transactions linked to these ads shows the financial impact on victims.
The sophistication of these scams highlights the need for users to exercise caution. Scam Sniffer advised double-checking URLs and ensuring that no redirects lead to malicious sites before connecting wallets or entering sensitive information.
Soneium, the blockchain platform now being exploited by phishing scammers, was recently launched by Sony Block Solutions Labs, a collaboration between Sony Group and Singapore’s Startale Labs. The Layer 2 blockchain was designed for industries like entertainment, gaming, and finance. Its launch has drawn both legitimate interest and malicious actors, as evidenced by these phishing attempts.
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