Matt Tootle revealed that the most significant threat to residents in 2023 stemmed from schemes that utilized social engineering methods to steal funds and digital assets.
“We have observed cases where fraudsters spend months cultivating seemingly genuine relationships with their future victims. For instance, they establish fake online platforms displaying the victim’s asset balance as well as the profitability of investing in cryptocurrencies. In some instances, scammers even allow the victim to verify the ‘effectiveness of the crypto project’ and withdraw a portion of their funds to encourage continued investment or large money transfers,” explained the special agent.
The scale of victims, the rapid execution of the scheme, and the volume of funds involved make this form of crypto fraud strikingly distinctive. According to Matt Tootle, any crypto investor should be immediately cautious if promised excessively high returns within a short time frame. Additionally, reporting to law enforcement agencies without delay is crucial in cases of criminal activity, as the return of funds can become significantly complicated:
“Often, victims do not realize they have lost their entire savings until weeks or months later. It is imperative to closely monitor your accounts. The sooner you report a crime, the better. The FBI believes that being proactive is the best defense.”
Previously, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino declared his company’s intention to collaborate closely with the US Secret Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to prevent digital finance-related crimes.