FBI says cryptocurrency fraudsters have become more active on LinkedIn

Sean Regan, FBI Special Agent in Charge, told CNBC that cryptocurrency scammers pose a particularly serious threat to LinkedIn, which «already has many victims and potential victims.»

The FBI agent explained how crypto scammers operate. Usually, a fraudster poses as a professional investor. After getting to know the victim online, he or she proceeds to offer to make money by investing in cryptocurrencies. Communication can last for months. Having gained the user’s trust, the criminal convinces the victim to invest in a phishing resource controlled by him or her, and then withdraws all the savings from the user’s wallet.

According to the FBI, losses from LinkedIn fraud can reach from $ 200,000 to $ 1.6 million per victim. Agent Regan assured that the Bureau is actively conducting a number of investigations, but cannot comment on cases that have not been fully solved yet.