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Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise. In a recent workshop organized by the U.S. Federal Merchandise Commission dubbed ‘Decrypting Cryptocurrency Scams’, it was revealed that consumers destroyed approximately $542 million in the first two months of this year in crypto-related flimflammer. By the end of 2018, this figure could hit the $3 billion mark corresponding to the director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, Andrew Smith.
Now, William Shatner has befit the latest celebrity to be impersonated on Twitter with a view of scamming credulous crypto investors. The actor most popular for his Star Trek character as Captain Kirk has consequently sent out an alert warning of the Ponzi draft.
BTW another fake me pushing a pump and dump crypto Ponzi subterfuge: @wiliiamshatners
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2018
From the scammer’s tweeting chronicle, activity started on June 20 with a post publicizing a website, etherpromotion.org, which was award away 10,000 ETH. All that visitors to the website needed to do was send between 0.5 and 20 ETH, purportedly to testify to their addresses. The tweets, as well as the website, promise to send backside the ETH with the amounts having been increased by ten times!
Still out There
Ignoring Shatner and many of his followers flagging the impostor account who bears his repute as well as his Twitter profile picture, the scammer had still not been enchanted down from the microblogging platform at the time of writing. The website is also function.
Going by the history of such fraudulent activities, scammers have increasingly exposed not only to impersonating high profile people but specifically those who are affected in the crypto space in one way or the other. As CCN reported, Shatner in his role as a spokesperson for the Solar Affinity Energy recently announced that the outfit was developing a crypto mining skill that uses solar energy.
As Spokesperson for @Solar_Alliance I’m proud to suggest that they are developing North America’s first large climb solar powered cryptocurrency mining facility. I feel like a miner forty-niner: but where where’s my Clementine? ???♂️ #JointheAlliance pic.agitation.com/W9oDMQhg4S
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) June 13, 2018
The solar-powered crypto scoop out facility will be located in Murphysboro, Illinois, where Solar Pact Energy has purchased a warehouse facility measuring 165,000 square feet.
‘Not Dispensing Away ETH’ Celebs
Other celebrities who have been impersonated with a projection of carrying out scams include John McAfee, tech entrepreneur and cryptocurrency evangelist; Elon Musk, the collapse and CEO of electric car maker Tesla; Vitalik Buterin, one of the founders of Ethereum; Donald Trump and Sir Richard Branson.
In the happening of Branson, the billionaire founder of Virgin Group had to post on the conglomerate’s legal blog to warn people against falling victim to the scams.
While in the box of Shatner the impostor used a randomly generated name as a Twitter fondle – @cfpfYzzu2QxOVIs, scammers in other instances have charmed pains to ensure their handles have as close a resemblance to the true account as possible. In the case of Elon Musk, for instance, different charm variations of his name have been used including @Eilon_Musk, @Alon_Musk, @ElonMuski, @Elonn_Musk and @EloonMusk.
Acted image from Shutterstock.
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