Whether you like it or not, but the current market capitalization of Bitcoin is already $ 10.5 billion. If someone of you still do not understand how this big pile of money, the fraudsters have long been kept on the alert, and ready for anything just to grab their share.
Regardless of whether you are doing cryptocurrency professionally or just trying to take this path, we recommend that you keep close track information about fresh revelations and, in general, a large-scale fraud in this area. Separately, I want to thank the resource Coin Republic, which experts kindly provided information for infographics and CryptoCoinNews resource for what the guys are constantly sharing relevant information about the bench, in one way or another connected with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency.
In general, fraud and benches involving Bitcoin can be divided into several categories:
Fake websites
At the beginning of 2016 one of Reddit users of the resource lost several of BTC, once invested them in the fake (fake web) site, disguised as a popular exchange platform ShapeShift.io. The site was really very similar to the original, except that in his address was leaked letter, which is quite difficult to see. Once this information is entered ShapeShift team, the guys immediately posted a press release, which acted as a warning to other users of the exchanger.
It is worth noting that this is not an isolated case. Periodically, there are fakes in way BitStamp, Bitcoin Foundation, Blockchain.info and other popular resources.
By creating an exact copy of the popular platform, fraudsters angling logins and passwords unsuspecting users or draw money from the purses inattentive. Incidentally, many of these fraudulent sites even meet even Google-advertising!
How to avoid problems: go only proven links from people you know. Each time, pay attention to the address of the site is properly written, and is protected by SSL-certificate if the connection.
Divorce
Found on the Internet who wants to sell you bitcoins, or says that accepts payment in cryptocurrency? Then with a great chance before you cheat, which will disappear at the same moment as you will send him his money.
Fraudsters of this type are able to enter the trust of people in many different ways. Some are so cunning that manage to send a fake identity or hide behind the name and appearance of other people, it is often taken for this purpose an image of someone known in the bitcoin community-specialists.
Можно отметить несколько типов развода на биткойны:
Inspires confidence scam advertising resources with links to fake websites and phishing, as well as empty promises all sorts of bonuses, or a 300% return on investment strength.
Attackers often presented and recommended by vendors as the main argument used fake positive reviews from customers and sell you non-existent BTC coins. For greater attractiveness of their offerings, BTC offered at below market value.
Advertising and selling non-existent on the pre-order mining equipment. In this case, the attackers fished money from inexperienced miners who hope for the amount paid to obtain the most advanced equipment for production cryptocurrency at home.
How to avoid problems: listen to your intuition. Often, too good, and the best deals are cheating. Try to trust only proven companies and services, and always pay attention to the spelling of the site address, and never click on links in suspicious email'ah said. At the slightest doubt in the source, try to contact the support for this resource. If you decide to buy or sell BTC somewhere in your city, then insist on a personal meeting, or use the escrow services.
Pyramid and Ponzi scheme
How would any professional looking website, an experienced Internet user always recognizes in it a pyramid scheme. However, we should pay tribute to the fraudsters, connected with the pyramids, because they make good psychologists that can manipulate people through their own greed and the desire for profit. If you stumble on a beautiful site on which you are promised unprecedented profits volumes (up to 100-200-300% per annum), or you often come across people who now and then try to lure you on these sites, you can be sure that this is another one-day pyramid.
Pyramid schemes involving bitcoins or other cryptocurrency can be presented in different ways and formats, but the most popular types is possible to name those in which you are offered a dividend for storage bitcoin-deposits or pools, and the cloud services of mining cryptocurrency.
investors often provide attractive income that they will put their money in stores bitcoins fraudulent service. In addition, widespread practice, when the deposit is frozen for a fixed period only after which it will be possible to return the invested funds. But we hope you understand that in 95% of cases you will not receive any dividends, nor even their own money invested. In 2015 was a major scandal platform MyCoin, when about 3000 depositors in total lost $ 3 billion as for the event of March this year, you've probably already heard:. More than 1,000 depositors encroached on the promise of 250% per annum, and lost about $ 50 million.
As for the pools and the cloud services of mining, these guys offer "investors" get bitcoins and other cryptocurrency without having to worry about buying expensive equipment. In theory, you are buying out or lease a certain amount of computing power, which are subsequently used for mining cryptocurrency, but such services have a habit of suddenly disappearing from the horizon at the moment, when you and other deluded "real estate investors" have not even paid back your investment. Known in some circles Gavin Andresen is strongly recommended to contact such services, even if they have been operating for many years and has long been proven to be reliable, since the idea of the cloud of mining always carries the potential hazard.
There is another, less common type of scam, masquerading as an innovative and breakthrough network marketing company (MLM or multi-level marketing). Today, these companies really are gradually introducing the possibility to operate Bitcoin personal cabinet advisors and participants, but even if so, the network company - is, in fact, a referral program, and we recommend that you avoid them.
How to avoid problems: the parties are too tempting offers. If the proposal "sounds too good to be true", then most likely, it is! As for the network companies, even if you received the recommendation from a friend, do not rush to decisions: your friends often do not yet fully understand what got involved.
Phishing links and sites
Many people mistakenly think that the more savvy users cryptocurrency technically, and they simply can not be deceived phishing. Forced to disappoint you. At the end of 2015 BitPay lost BTC totaling nearly $ 2 million because of the phishing. If a quick comb through Reddit, you can find information about many different phishing attacks and acts of fraud. Taking advantage of such services as Bitstamp, LocalBitcoins, Coinbase and blockchain.info, try to exercise the utmost vigilance.
How to avoid problems: go only proven links from people you know. Each time, pay attention to the address of the site is properly written, and is protected by SSL-certificate if the connection.
Cheating in plug-ins and applications
This type of fraud began to gain momentum recently, but bears no less a danger. Unfortunately, now we can not be fully protected against fraud even in applications and plug-ins.
At the end of 2015-the Bitcoin community stirred up information rapidly distribute applications Localbitcoin, while available in the Market app for Android.
A couple of months ago, in March of this year, received a tarnished reputation addition to Chrome browser, called BitcoinWisdom Ads Remover. This script could replace the QR-code on the conversion of currency exchange in the popular platforms, and thereby send money to the attacker's wallet.
How to avoid problems: hardly any of us will be able to predict which of the following applications will be fraudulent. First of all, do not believe the high ratings and a series of extremely positive reviews as they are very easy to wind. Power users already know that trust ratings in the Android Play Store can not be in any case. Before downloading any unknown applications you need, try in any way to contact the developer specified in the information, and ensure that the application was indeed created them.
Cheating by the authority
This type of fraud most difficult to recognize. Many attackers for very long pre-rubbed into the confidence of the participants-the Bitcoin community. One of the largest such scandals broke out around Cryptsy exchange platform for a long time to hide from its users that subsequently hacker attack had lost $ 6 million. Instead of an honest confession, users simply have lost the opportunity to withdraw their own money and get any clarification. And the community, probably, will always remember the case of the Mt Gox - exchanger, which suddenly disappeared as 744,000 of BTC, which were kept in reserve platform.
Another loud fraud occurred at the end of March this code when the attackers acted as organizers of the London Bitcoin Forum, and gathered many thousands of pounds to those who would like to attend on such a grand event. The program has not been of the forum includes speeches and lectures by well-known in the Bitcoin community-personalities, presentations and more. When liars gathered enough money, the website just dropped out of sight, and the Facebook page was blocked. As a result, today all the information about the planned activities related to the Bitcoin, is thoroughly tested.
How to avoid problems: attitude to such news with a good share of skeptics and try to get acquainted with the history of the companies and people who advertise upcoming events.
In conclusion
All of the above methods, and the more facts disclosed fraud and deception, just not add the reputation of the industry as a whole cryptocurrency. So there had to be a natural development of decentralized financial instrument? Current state of affairs, namely the absence of any regulation cryptocurrency, unties the hands of criminals. It is unlikely that we can expect that people will be less cheating or cheated will be smaller, and therefore, we recommend you to be cautious and to carefully check all the information and platforms that you are going to entrust their own money.