Crypto Scam: Pune Trader Loses Rs 2.5 Lakh To Fake Employer He Met Online

A 22-year-old Pune resident lost Rs 2.5 lakh from his cryptocurrency wallet after downloading an app that one of his potential employers suggested. Naved Alam, a product designer and cryptocurrency trader, stated that he has now blocked the user’s account and reported him, but he has not yet reported the incident to the authorities. Alam wrote about the event on microblogging site X (formerly Twitter).

“Recently, I fell victim to a scam on Twitter and lost $3000. Sharing my story to raise awareness and prevent others from going through the same ordeal,” Alam said. He included screen grabs of his conversation in a later post, stating that it began with a promising prospect when a person on Twitter going by the handle ‘crankybugatti’ contacted him about a design role with a company that was involved with a web3 communication app called ‘SocialSpectra.’

Alam disclosed that the discussion quickly shifted to Discord, where everything appeared to be in order. He revealed that basic design enquiries were made, and they appeared to be impressed by his work. After that, “HR” called Alam and gave him a link to join. “Little did I know, it was a trap,” Alam went on to add.

For the call, Alam downloaded what he believed to be an internal communication app. Rather, spyware destroyed his staked assets and emptied his cryptocurrency wallet. “In a matter of moments, I lost $3000 to scammers who prey on unsuspecting individuals looking for legitimate opportunities,” he said.

In a subsequent post, Alam said that this incident had made him more watchful and circumspect when using the internet for business. He issued a warning, advising people to always confirm the legitimacy of employment offers and never download anything until they are positive about its source. He cautioned that designers, developers, and other working professionals are among the people that fraudsters target.

Alam told Moneycontrol that the event occurred on Saturday, March 30, around 2 in the morning. In response to a question on whether he had reached out to crankybugatti any further, Alam said he had asked him to repay the money. However, the fraudster claimed that he was not a part of the scam, but he would fix the problem and that his friend works in cybercrime security. “Obviously, I didn’t believe him,” he told the news outlet.