#Telegram Scams Are Rampant#

Telegram scams are proliferating in a more sophisticated manner, with malware scams now exceeding traditional phishing attacks. Data from security firm Scam Sniffer shows a 2000% surge in scams that lure investors into malicious Telegram groups from November 2024 to January this year. Scammers are no longer merely impersonating cryptocurrency influencers, but targeting communities of legitimate cryptocurrency projects on the platform through seemingly safe invitations. They utilize methods like fake verification bots, trading groups, airdrop groups, and “exclusive” insider groups to distribute malware. When users fall prey to the fake verification process, malicious code is injected into their clipboard, which, when executed, downloads malware and steals victims' passwords, cryptocurrency wallets, and browser data. The attackers have adopted this strategy because users are becoming more wary of known cryptocurrency scams, while malware offers a broader reach through Telegram. Scam Sniffer reminds users that any legitimate cryptocurrency service would never ask users to execute commands, install verification software, or run scripts from their clipboard.