Stay safe!

At Anycoin Direct, we strive to make it as easy as possible to buy or sell cryptocurrencies, but we also focus heavily on security. In this blog, we would like to make you aware of the various crypto-related scams which people fall victim to, so you will be able to recognize them before it’s too late.

‘’Microsoft’’ phone calls

One of the most common scams is the so called Microsoft Scam, which we (unfortunately) encounter frequently. So how is this scam initiated? Someone who pretends to be an employee of Microsoft calls you to inform you that they have been noticing strange activity on your computer. They will, of course, claim that they can help you resolve the issue. The scam differs from time to time. For example, they can ask you to buy an amount of Bitcoin and transfer it to them so that you can buy a virus scanner. Of course, when you send them Bitcoin, you will never hear from them again and you’ve lost your coins.

On other occasions, they will ask you to download and install a program so they can remotely take over your computer. When you do so and grant them access to your computer, they will either lock your personal files and demand payment and/ or gain access to your online banking. Another variant of this scam comes in the form of a pop-up message in your internet browser, where you are forced to call a free number. Never call this number. If you are unable to close the pop-up message, just close your browser or reboot your computer.

Investment success?

Someone sends you a friend request on Social Media. Once accepted, this person starts talking to you about how they’ve gained lots of profit and they want to help you achieve the same. The only thing you have to do is buy an amount of Bitcoin and transfer it to them. Of course, when you send them your Bitcoin, they will just disappear, or ask you for another payment the next day for even more profit. Besides social media, scammers can also contact you via your email address.

Webcam footage

Another scam that is more common these days, are so called ‘webcam scams’. You receive an email which states that your webcam was activated by a hacker without your knowledge. The hacker says they’ve acquired shameful footage of yourself, and will send these videos and images to your family and friends if you do not pay. On most occasions, there is no actual footage. These scammers send emails like these to thousands of people, hoping that someone will pay. When a victim transfers an amount of Bitcoin to the scammer, in most cases, the scammer knows you are worried and will ask for multiple additional payments.

The job offer

The third scam that we will discuss is done through job offers. Someone contacts you via email or social media, and offers you a simple job. The person contacting you can be a complete stranger, or it can be an acquaintance. The only thing you have to do is buy cryptocurrencies with money they transfer to your bank account and you get to keep a percentage of that. While this may sound like an easy way of gaining money quickly, you probably shouldn’t consider doing this. The money you receive comes from the criminal circuit, and you are being used as a money mule. The cryptocurrencies you buy with the stolen money are hard, if not impossible to trace, but your personal bank account is easy to find for the police and prosecutors, resulting in a money laundering conviction.

At Anycoin Direct, we do our best to create a safe platform for our customers, as well as creating awareness of common scams and preventing them. When you think somebody is trying to scam you, please never hesitate to contact our customer support team.