Cryptocurrency exchange listing scams are on the rise again as the overall market recovers. He Yi, the spouse of Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao and the exchange's former CEO, recently reported a LinkedIn impersonator using her name and position to offer a list of tokens in exchange for payment. He Yi clarified that she is not responsible for discussions related to potential listings and urged caution against anyone claiming to be close to her discussing investments or listings. Additionally, screenshots of WhatsApp users posing as Binance employees and offering free money to join cryptocurrency discussion groups were revealed by blockchain author Anndy Lian.
Binance's customer support emphasized the importance of using the official website link to verify the authenticity of individuals offering unsolicited offers. They cautioned users against contacting unofficial or unverified sources and disclosing account details to them. Exchange listing scams became prevalent during the last bull market, and investigation in August 2022 uncovered scammers using professional LinkedIn profiles from reputable exchanges to deceive project developers and co-founders. The typical modus operandi involves scammers requesting an initial "deposit," sometimes as high as 250,000 USDT, to initiate the listing process. Unfortunately, once the victim pays the deposit, the promised token listing never materializes.
These scams underscore the importance of vigilance within the cryptocurrency community, particularly regarding unsolicited offers and discussions related to token listings. As the market experiences a recovery, scammers are exploiting the optimism to deceive individuals and capitalize on fraudulent activities. Users are advised to verify the authenticity of any communication, especially those offering lucrative deals or promising token listings, and to rely on official channels for confirmation. Binance and other reputable exchanges continue to emphasize the need for caution and adherence to security measures to protect users from falling victim to such scams.
