Feds warn of crypto scam that uses fake dating websites

Crypto scammers are always evolving, and federal officials are warning of a new scheme that scammers are using to steal the currency in your crypto wallet, conning people through fake dating websites.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said scammers are using photos and videos of attractive women to hook the unsuspecting.

According to the U.S. attorney, six people are accused of being behind a scheme operating out of Madagascar targeting unsuspecting men who were looking for love, drawing them in with photos and videos of the women.

“The operations are now hiring real people, and they record themselves and message the victims. The clips are repeatedly used from one target to another,” Pirro said. “… The videos raise the level of trust. It feels very personal and it makes the fraud far more convincing to the victim.”

The FBI said it identified approximately 74 cryptocurrency wallets belonging to victims in Maryland, Oregon, Minnesota and Nevada.

So how do they do it?

In images seized by federal officials, the scammers are told how to draw their targets in, telling them exactly what to say.

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“Once the victim is engaged, the scammer directs the victim to a website that appears to be a legitimate, maybe NFT marketplace or investment platform. The victim is told to connect or link their cryptocurrency wallet,” Pirro said.