⚠️ Indodax exchange hack: what happened?
On the evening of September 10 (UTC), Indonesia’s largest crypto exchange, Indodax, suffered a major hack. Over $21 million in cryptocurrency assets were stolen. The hacker targeted addresses across multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Polygon, Optimism, Tron, and Bitcoin Cash, converting much of the stolen funds into native tokens.

🔍 Main sources of stolen funds.
Currently, the stolen funds are stored on several cryptocurrency addresses.
Since it is forbidden to publish crypto addresses on this platform, you can read this information in our Twitter post: https://x.com/MatchSystems/status/1833771545317278078

🕵️‍♂️ We continue to monitor the situation and track the hacker's actions as they attempt to move and obscure the stolen funds.

🔍 Scam Schemes in TON: A New Era of Deception

The TON ecosystem has become a hotbed for scams in 2024, attracting fraudsters who have migrated from other blockchain networks. Here’s what you need to know about this growing threat:

🚨 Fake Airdrops & Phishing Sites: Scammers lure users with fake airdrops and deceptive websites, aiming to steal private keys and gain wallet access.

💀 Wallet Drainers: These tools can empty wallets within seconds, making recovery nearly impossible.

💸 Money Laundering Techniques: Fraudsters use complex laundering methods to move funds, making it difficult to trace stolen assets.

📊 Over 1,200 Scam Cases Reported: The first half of 2024 saw a surge in fraud reports, highlighting the scale of the problem.

🔒 Stay Safe: Always verify websites, use trusted wallets, and enable multi-factor authentication to protect your assets.

🔗 Stay informed, stay protected! For an in-depth analysis, read the full article here: The Rise of Scams in the TON Ecosystem - https://matchsystems.com/rise_of_scams_ton_ecosystem/.

📰 Angara Security: "Nearly Half of Cryptocurrency Posts on Telegram Are Fraudulent".

📱 Over 40% of materials in Telegram channels dedicated to cryptocurrencies have been found to be fraudulent. 

A significant number of these publications are due to the lack of cryptocurrency regulation in some countries, which scammers exploit by disguising their posts as those from cryptocurrency exchanges.

⚠️ Be Cautious:

1️⃣ Pay close attention to the websites you visit to avoid phishing platforms.
2️⃣ Do not share your personal information with anyone.

🇸🇻 El Salvador: How Unconventional Economic Decisions Lead to Surprising Outcomes

🪙 In June 2021, the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, introduced a bill that was enacted in September of the same year. This legislation mandates the use of Bitcoin for the payment of goods and services by businesses and organizations in El Salvador.

💰 Currently, El Salvador holds cryptocurrency assets amounting to over 5,700 BTC, valued at approximately $312 million USD, placing it fifth among countries that have officially disclosed their cryptocurrency holdings.

✍️ Despite the active promotion of cryptocurrency, which has enhanced El Salvador's image, the country also faces criticism and risks associated with this decision:

1️⃣ Criticism from Regulators: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank have harshly criticized the use of Bitcoin as an official means of payment and have urged El Salvador to abandon it.

2️⃣ Low Adoption Rates in Retail: In El Salvador, only about 20% of stores and cafes accept Bitcoin for payment of goods and services.

3️⃣ Costly and Time-Consuming Conversion Operations: Converting cryptocurrency to fiat and vice versa can be lengthy and expensive. For example, exchanging Bitcoin for fiat through ATMs can take up to half an hour, with transaction fees around 5%.

4️⃣ Low Levels of Education and Trust Among the Population: Approximately 70% of the Salvadoran population does not trust Bitcoin and does not understand how it works. Additionally, due to financial illiteracy, residents of El Salvador may fall victim to fraud and lose their funds due to improper storage of their cryptocurrency assets.

📃 This underscores both the innovative strides El Salvador is making in the realm of cryptocurrency and the considerable challenges and risks that accompany such a bold economic experiment.

🥷 Crypto investment scams: how they work. 

1️⃣ Scammers often initiate contact through dating apps or social media, building trust before introducing fake cryptocurrency investment opportunities.
2️⃣ They use social engineering tactics to lure victims into investing in fraudulent schemes, promising high returns that are too good to be true.

⚠️ Warning signs.  

1️⃣ Unsolicited investment offers via email, social media, or phone.
2️⃣ Pressure to act quickly on investment opportunities.
3️⃣ Requests to transfer cryptocurrency to unknown addresses.

🛡 Protection tips. 

1️⃣ Research Thoroughly: Verify the legitimacy of any investment opportunity.
2️⃣ Keep Information Private: Never share private keys or sensitive information.
3️⃣ Be Skeptical of Online Contacts: Especially those met on dating platforms who push for crypto investments.
4️⃣ Verify Sources: Confirm that any investment suggestion from a friend actually comes from them.
5️⃣ Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, report it to your national police.

🆕 Andrei Kutin, CEO of Match Systems, discussed interesting issues in a new podcast with Adel Bhurtun.

🎙️ Adel asks Andrei, what’s the solution to avoiding the increased risk of being scammed due to the rise of AI? Find out what Andrei had to say.

❓ Balancing privacy while being a content creator remains a challenge, especially with AI deepfakes and even law enforcement tracking our every move.

🔜 You can hear the answers to these and other interesting questions by listening to the new podcast at ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uefEam3CF4

On September 6, 2024, a working meeting was held between Match Systems and representatives of the Thai Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau. 

During the meeting, issues related to crimes involving cryptocurrencies were discussed, and representatives from Match Systems demonstrated their best practices in combating the criminal use of cryptocurrencies using the MS_Engine service. 

The representatives of the Bureau acknowledged Match Systems' significant experience in this area and emphasized the importance of joint efforts in combating the criminal use of cryptocurrencies and addressing cryptocurrency security issues.

At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties highlighted the importance of such engagements and expressed interest in potential usage of the MS_Engine service, as well as in continuing their collaborative efforts.

🛡Drainers are one of the most common types of crypto scams. How can you protect yourself from them?

In our recent article, we discussed what drainers are. Today, let's explore how to shield yourself from these fraudulent schemes:

1️⃣ Check URLs: Vigilance is your best defense! Always double-check that the site you're using is legitimate before entering any details. Don’t let scammers mislead you! 

2️⃣ Install Reliable Antivirus Software: Think of it as your digital shield and sword! Antivirus software protects your device from malware, so ensure it’s always up to date.

3️⃣ Research Apps: Before installing any app, read reviews and do thorough research. A wrong step could lead to the loss of your assets!

⚠️ Stay alert and follow these protective measures! Don’t let scammers trick you. Remember, your money's security is in your hands!

🔥 React to this post, and we’ll publish the next article on other popular fraudulent schemes.

🥷 Scammers hacked into Penpie's DeFi protocol and stole approximately $27 million in cryptocurrency.

💸 The criminals exchanged the stolen crypto assets for 11,900 ETH. Some of the funds have already been sent to Tornado Cash. While this method of hiding the crime is not always reliable, skilled cybersecurity experts can often trace mixers. It's possible that in this case, they will also be able to track the movement of the assets.

✍️ We will continue to monitor the situation.

🕵️‍♂️ Match Systems' markups are now available on Etherscan!

🔎 Etherscan is a blockchain explorer for Ethereum, providing detailed information about transactions, blocks, wallet addresses, smart contracts, and other network data. Now, every user can track the wallet addresses flagged by Match Systems. 

🖥️ Check out an example of a marked wallet here ➡️ https://etherscan.io/address/0x646f088455e1fbE6CE363c53d7c52765554CD6E2

#cryptocurrency #blockchain #cybersecurity #etherscan

🎙️ Opinion of Match Systems CEO Andrei Kutin.

🌐 What, in his opinion, are the most relevant cyber threats in 2024?

Currently, the main cyber threats are:

1. 💻🔒 Ransomware: These malicious programs can encrypt files on users' devices and demand a ransom to decrypt them.

2. 🧠🖼️ Artificial Intelligence and the Images It Generates: Advances in AI technology make it possible to create realistic images and videos that can be used for malicious purposes.

3. 🎣💡 Modernized Phishing Attacks: The use of AI and deepfakes can significantly increase the effectiveness of phishing attacks by helping attackers clone different characters and thus fool unaware users.

🛡️ Despite these threats, it is worth noting that the methods to counter them will also increase in quantity and quality. The use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity will lead to more effective solutions to defend against modern attacks.

🎧 This Thursday, there will be an Ama session where you'll learn the answer to the question, "Is Privacy a Prerequisite for Crypto's Growing Appeal?"

📅 August 22 | 11 CET (9 UTC)

🎙️Speakers: 

Andrei Kutin from Match Systems

Tomer Warschauer Nuni from Kima Network

Andrea Zapparoli Manzoni from HackManac

Patrick Schulte from Dubbz

⏰ Don't miss out on this exciting event!

🔁 A user lost $55.47 million due to phishing scams.

💸 User lost $55.47 million in DAI stablecoin due to a phishing transaction targeting his DeFi Saver Proxy.

⚠️ Match Systems strongly recommends carefully checking URL, using two-factor authentication, and avoiding clicking on suspicious links!

💻 A serious Windows security vulnerability has been discovered that allows for the theft of cryptocurrency. 

🦠 The Styx Stealer malware compromises user data, including cookies and credentials, and sends it to hackers.

🟠 Funds are stolen by replacing the original wallet address with that of the attacker. The malware targets nine cryptocurrencies: $BTC, $ETH, $XMR, $XLM, $XRP, $LTC, $NEC, $BCH, and $DASH.

🛡️ Hackers can purchase a subscription to Styx Stealer for just $75 per month.

🔒 Match Systems recommends upgrading your devices to the latest version to ensure maximum security!

🧑‍⚖️ Dubai court recognizes crypto as a valid salary payment

🪙 The Dubai Court of First Instance has recognized cryptocurrency wage payments as valid under employment contracts. This decision marks a departure from the previous position, where a similar claim was dismissed due to a lack of accurate valuation of cryptocurrency.

🇦🇪 This ruling demonstrates a progressive approach to integrating digital currencies into the country's legal and economic system. The decision sets a positive precedent for the integration of digital currencies into everyday financial transactions and promotes a more inclusive business environment. Lawyers view this as a victory for employees and a significant step forward in the UAE journey toward leadership in the digital economy.

🕵️‍♂️ Match Systems markup is now available on #Etherscan .

🔍 Etherscan is an observer for the Ethereum blockchain that contains information about transactions, blocks, wallet addresses, #smartcontracts , and other network data. Now every user can track the addresses that Match Systems is marking up. 🔒

⚠️Fake Support #scamriskwarning Costs Investor $100K

An American investor lost approximately $100,000 in cryptocurrencies after falling victim to a phishing scam when he attempted to contact Coinbase support through a phone number found via a Google ad. 

The scammer, posing as a Coinbase representative, convinced the investor, Fred (a fictitious name), to share his Coinbase and bank account passwords under the pretense of needing to update his account. 

Fred only realized he had been scammed when his bank contacted him about suspicious activity on his account.

🎤 The Match Systems team attended Istanbul #Blockchain Week, which took place on August 13-14. 

🇹🇷 Istanbul Blockchain Week stands as a premier annual event, nestled in the vibrant heart of Istanbul — a city where cryptocurrency and Web3 already play a key role in the lives of its people. 🌍

💼 The purpose of attending this event for the Match Systems team was to expand our professional #network and strengthen ties with partners, as well as to listen to a number of interesting speakers whose ideas and experiences proved valuable for the further development of our work in the field of #cryptocurrencyearn investigations. 👥

#BinanceTurns7

⚖️ Introduction of new regulations for the gambling and lottery industry in the #UAE and risk warning. 

⚠️ With the introduction of a new regulatory body in the United Arab Emirates, the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which licenses and supervises commercial gaming activities, there has been a significant increase in interest in obtaining licenses in this area. Match Systems welcomes legal initiatives in this direction but warns of the risks involved, especially the potential for illegal actions by unscrupulous intermediaries and criminal actors.

🕵️ We note that fraudsters posing as lawyers and industry professionals may take advantage of the increased demand for licensing services by offering illegitimate or fake solutions using various methods of deception. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, as this can lead to serious legal and financial consequences for those who interact with such intermediaries.

#NewsAboutCrypto #CryptoMarketMoves #gambling

🗓️ Digest of Interesting Publications from the Past Week by Match Systems

🎙️ We held an #AMAsession with industry experts on "How We Can Increase Security and Trust in the Crypto Ecosystem." In it, Match Systems CEO Andrey Kutin and industry leaders discussed many interesting topics.

🚨 Fraudsters hacked into the Nexera platform and stole 47.2 million NXRA tokens, totaling $1.93 million, after which the token price dropped by 40%.

💰 The hacker who stole $200 million worth of cryptocurrency in 2022 invested $40 million in the DAI stablecoin to acquire nearly 17,000 ETH when the price of Ether dropped below $2,200 on the morning of August 5.

🔑 Streamer Dmitry Lix had $75,000 in cryptocurrency stolen from him due to careless handling of his seed phrase. In our article, we explained how to handle a seed phrase to avoid losing your crypto assets.

💸 Bitcoins can now be stored under the skin. The installation of the wallet is performed surgically: the user makes a small incision, into which the device is placed.

#NewsAboutCrypto #CryptoNewss #TONonBinance