For crypto users, an apparently small error might have grave effects. If consumers mistakenly type “someium” while searching for “Soneium,” Sony’s blockchain initiative, they could end up on a deadly phishing website, according to blockchain security company Scam Sniffer. This fake advertisement, which appears at the top of Google search results, aims to drain the cryptocurrency wallets of unsuspecting visitors.
Scam Sniffer discovered a dangerous link in a sponsored Google ad, highlighting the frequency of such phishing schemes, particularly when consumers fail to closely examine them. Users who click the link are sent to a phony website that seems real but is actually a trap designed to pilfer bitcoin.
Even for Google’s algorithms, the fraud involves a minor alteration to the domain name, making detection challenging. Scam Sniffer pointed out that Google might not react immediately, as the website designers used sophisticated methods to conceal the harmful page from most people. Unfortunately, this allows the fraud to target specific individuals, further complicating the task of stopping it.
Though the techniques are not new, crypto theft via phishing schemes is growing more complex. Targeting mostly Ether wallets, these schemes stole nearly $46 million worth of cryptocurrency from 10,800 victims in September alone. The findings of Scam Sniffer indicate a broader pattern of increasing criminal activity in the cryptocurrency space, where even minor mistakes such as a misspelled search term can result in significant financial losses.
Despite appearing unique, this particular fraud is part of a growing wave of phishing attacks targeting cryptocurrency users. It is difficult for consumers to discover they have clicked on a bogus link until it is too late, as scammers routinely exploit domain names to produce almost exact duplicates of reputable websites.
The risk of phishing attempts and fraud rises along with the increasing use of cryptocurrencies. While looking for blockchain-related information, users have to be alert and make sure they are visiting reputable websites to prevent falling prey to these ever more sophisticated frauds.
