The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a stern warning to cryptocurrency investors, drawing attention to the increasing risk of fraud in the field of crypto asset securities.
The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued an Investor Alert outlining how scammers are using the popularity of crypto assets, including cryptocurrencies, coins and tokens, to defraud unsuspecting investors.
Fraudsters are leveraging new technologies and innovations to commit investment fraud, making it increasingly difficult for authorities to track and recover funds, the SEC said. These criminals often hide their identities and hide traces of funds using cryptocurrencies; these assets can be quickly transferred overseas, complicating recovery efforts.
The SEC identified five common techniques scammers use to lure investors into scams related to cryptoasset securities:
- Social Media and Random Text Messages: Scammers often initiate contact on social media platforms or through unsolicited text messages, posing as old friends or casual acquaintances. They quickly move the conversation away from the initial platform by establishing a friendship or romantic relationship to gain trust. Once trust is established, they convince the victim to invest in crypto assets, after which they disappear with the funds. These scams are known as “pig butcher scams.” The precautions that the SEC recommends against fraudsters are as follows:
Avoid making investment decisions based on online acquaintances.
Do not share your personal financial information with people you meet online.
- Excitement Around Emerging Technologies: Scammers use excitement around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to lure investors. They offer crypto investments linked to AI to make the opportunity appear cutting-edge and legitimate.
- Impersonating Reliable Sources: Even if an investment offer comes from a friend or family member, it may not be legitimate. Scammers often encourage fraudulent investments by deceiving trusted people.
- Pump-and-Dump Schemes: Scammers run pump-and-dump schemes with cryptoassets, especially memecoins related to popular culture or internet memes. By creating excitement around these assets on social media, they push up the price before selling their holdings at the expense of late investors.
- Advance Payment Scams: In these scams, scammers charge additional charges, fees, or taxes to withdraw money from an account and falsely claim that these payments are necessary for the investor to access their funds or recoup their losses.
The SEC urges investors to be cautious and skeptical of unclaimed investment opportunities, especially those involving crypto assets.
*This is not investment advice.
