MetaMask scammers take over government websites to target crypto investors

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Crypto scams concentrating on MetaMask customers are utilizing government-owned web site URLs to con victims and entry their crypto pockets holdings.

Ethereum-based crypto pockets MetaMask has been a long-standing goal for scammers — which includes redirecting unwary customers to fabricated web sites that request entry to the MetaMask wallets. Cointelegraph’s investigation on the matter discovered quite a few government-owned web sites getting used to perpetrate this actual rip-off.

Official authorities web sites from India, Nigeria, Egypt, Colombia, Brazil, Vietnam and different jurisdictions have been discovered redirecting to faux MetaMask web sites, as proven under.

MetaMask scammers use authorities web sites to steal from crypto customers. Supply: Cointelegraph (by way of Google)

Cointelegraph altered MetaMask concerning the ongoing scams and has not but heard again from them on the time of writing.

As soon as a consumer clicks on any of the rogue hyperlinks positioned throughout the authorities web site URLs, they’re redirected to a faux URL, as an alternative of the unique URL “MetaMask.io”. As soon as accessed, Microsoft’s built-in safety — Microsoft Defender — warns customers a couple of attainable phishing try.

Microsoft’s warning in opposition to the MetaMask phishing web sites. Supply: Cointelegraph

If a consumer decides to disregard the warning, they’re then greeted by an internet site that intently resembles the official MetaMask web site. The faux web sites will ultimately ask the customers to hyperlink their MetaMask wallets to entry varied companies on the platform.

Comparability between the unique and faux MetaMask web sites. Supply: Cointelegraph

The above screenshot exhibits the similarity between the true and faux MetaMask web sites, which is among the fundamental causes buyers fall for such widespread scams. Linking MetaMask wallets on such web sites provides scammers full management over the belongings held over these explicit MetaMask wallets.

Associated: Scam alert: MetaMask warns users of deceptive March 31 airdrop rumors

In April, MetaMask denied claims of an exploit that probably drained over 5,000 Ether (ETH).

The pockets supplier stated the 5,000 ETH was stolen “from varied addresses throughout 11 blockchains,” reaffirming the declare that funds had been hacked from MetaMask “is wrong.”

Chatting with Cointelegraph, Pockets Guard co-founder Ohm Shah stated the MetaMask group has been “researching tirelessly,” and there may be “no strong reply to how this has occurred.”

Journal: How to protect your crypto in a volatile market: Bitcoin OGs and experts weigh in