Those awaiting funds from the defunct FTX cryptocurrency exchange are reportedly facing a new wave of deceptive practices, this time in the form of a bogus airdrop initiative.
A prominent advocate for FTX creditors, Sunil Kavuri, issued a cautionary message on September 24th, stating that phishing emails are targeting individuals within the community. These emails are exploiting data compromised during the security breach at Kroll, a company handling FTX claims.
Kavuri shared a screenshot of the fraudulent communication, which alleges that FTX creditors are entitled to receive “ASTER” tokens. The email prompts recipients to link their digital wallets to what appears to be a fabricated claims website.
ASTER is the digital currency associated with a decentralized exchange platform that has gained traction, with ties to Changpeng Zhao, the founder of Binance. The project is currently distributing a portion, 8.8%, of its digital assets to community participants.
However, Kavuri emphasized that the claims website is a deceptive front designed to pilfer funds from digital wallets.
He strongly advised creditors to confirm any announcements solely through reputable Telegram channels and official X (formerly Twitter) accounts. He stated:
“Legitimate airdrop initiatives for FTX creditors will only be publicized through trustworthy and verifiable sources.”
This latest scam adds to a series of phishing attempts that have plagued FTX creditors since the exchange’s downfall. These malicious activities seem to escalate as the prospect of repayments to creditors nears.
The ongoing frustration arising from these recurrent attacks has already resulted in legal action.
Last month, FTX creditors initiated a lawsuit against Kroll, asserting that the company’s inadequate handling of sensitive information rendered them susceptible to cybercrime, causing further financial harm beyond their initial losses from the exchange’s collapse.
SBF’s X Account Reappears
While FTX creditors are defending against fraudsters, the X account belonging to Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of the exchange, has been reactivated.
On September 24th, Bankman-Fried’s X account posted a simple “gm” (good morning) message, triggering speculation about whether he was communicating from within the correctional facility.
However, the speculation subsided when a subsequent post clarified that a friend was now managing the account and posting on Bankman-Fried’s behalf.
The account now includes a mailing address for correspondence with the incarcerated individual, implying that replies to letters might be facilitated through the revived X account.
Intriguingly, the address is labeled as “monitored,” suggesting that all incoming letters will be reviewed by authorities before reaching Bankman-Fried. This raises the question of whether it serves as a caution against sending potentially incriminating content. He has maintained a “not guilty” plea to the charges against him.
Bankman-Fried, convicted of orchestrating one of the most significant frauds in the cryptocurrency sector, is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence in a federal correctional facility and is pursuing avenues to appeal his sentence.