The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has launched an investigation into a large-scale cryptocurrency scam in which fraudsters impersonated Binance representatives to defraud Australians.
Scheme Details
In a joint statement, the AFP, the National Anti-Scam Centre (NASC), and Binance Australia revealed that the scheme was uncovered as part of Operation Firestorm—a global initiative to crack down on digital fraud. Authorities warned that more than 130 potential victims have already been targeted in the sophisticated scam.
How Fraudsters Operated
According to the statement, scammers posed as Binance representatives and contacted victims with fake alerts, falsely claiming that their Binance accounts had been compromised. They used encrypted messaging platforms and SMS to send 'spoofed' messages that appeared to come from Binance’s official channels. These deceptive messages were carefully inserted into existing Binance chat threads, making them seem even more credible.
Advice for Victims
AFP Commander Graeme Marshall advised anyone who transferred funds to the 'so-called trust wallet' to report the incident to their bank, crypto exchange, and police via ReportCyber. He highlighted the collaboration with the NASC to identify victims quickly and provide guidance on protecting their cryptocurrency accounts.
With increased attention on cryptocurrency scams and frequent targeting of major platforms like Binance, users should exercise caution and adhere to security measures to protect their accounts.
