Cash News
Bitcoin—along with other major cryptocurrencies ethereum, solana and XRP—have crashed back this week (falling along with the stock market in a crash that could get a lot worse).
Subscribe now to Forbes’ CryptoAsset & Blockchain Advisor and “uncover blockchain blockbusters poised for 1,000% plus gains” in the aftermath of bitcoin’s halving earthquake!
The bitcoin price has dropped toward $60,000 per bitcoin after touching $70,000 just last week. Other top ten cryptocurrencies ethereum, solana and XRP have also dropped back wiping a combined $300 billion from the crypto market since late July—just after Elon Musk broke his silence on bitcoin.
Now, as traders brace for a Donald Trump bitcoin “game-changer,” the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a serious crypto warning over attempts by scammers to steal users’ funds.
Sign up now for the free CryptoCodex—A daily five-minute newsletter for traders, investors and the crypto-curious that will get you up to date and keep you ahead of the bitcoin and crypto market bull run
“The FBI is warning of scammers impersonating cryptocurrency exchange employees to steal your money,” the domestic intelligence and security service posted to X. “If you have been a victim of this scam report the activity associated with it.”
“If you receive a call or message indicating any kind of account problem or compromise, do not respond, even if it appears official and indicates you must act immediately,” an FBI notice read, alongside a number of other tips to avoid losing crypto to fraudsters.
“Hang up. Call the cryptocurrency exchange’s official phone number to verify if there is a problem. Do not use any phone number the caller provides. Do not go to any websites or click on links the caller sends you. Navigate to the official cryptocurrency exchange website separately.”
The crypto market continues to be plagued by scammers and hackers, with times of bitcoin price and crypto market volatility making it easier for those trying to steal crypto from panicked users.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free, daily newsletter for the crypto-curious
The amount of bitcoin and crypto stolen worldwide more than doubled in the first six months of 2024 from a year earlier, mostly due to a few massive attacks and the bitcoin and crypto price rebound from 2022, according to a report from blockchain researchers TRM Labs out last month.
“While we have not seen any fundamental changes in the security of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, we have seen a significant increase in the value of various tokens – from bitcoin to ethereum and solana—compared to the same time last year,” Ari Redbord, global head of policy at TRM Labs, told Reuters.
Hackers stole almost $1.4 billion worth of crypto between January and June 2024, compared with $657 million in the same period in 2023, the blockchain sleuths found.