Turkish Crypto Influencer Seeks Help: They Stole All My Money!

Lloyds Bank is warning its customers about the increasing cases of cryptocurrency fraud. The bank recently issued a warning stating that 66% of investment fraud occurs through social media, especially on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Scammers attract their victims through direct messaging, fake celebrity endorsements, and bogus advertisements. At the time of our conversation, it was revealed that a Turkish crypto influencer, known as 'Coin Engineer' on social media, had also fallen victim to fraud, claiming that approximately $1 million had been stolen.

Turkish Crypto Influencer: They Stole All My Money!

In the world of crypto, hacking and fraud are common occurrences. However, specific situations draw attention. In a recent development, a Turkish crypto influencer known as 'Coin Engineer' claimed to have been robbed by hackers. The influencer shared the situation from their account, seeking help. In this context, Coin Engineer made the following statement:

"My Turkish Telecom SIM card was stolen. All my funds on exchanges are being withdrawn. I'm not receiving any calls on my phone. All my emails were stolen, and passwords were changed. They withdrew all the money I earned in life from exchanges. I'm in a very difficult situation. Please help! My emails have changed. SMS messages are not coming through. I can't even log into my email to check what has been stolen anymore. I don't understand how they can change my SIM card!"

Turkish Crypto Exchanges Take Urgent Measures

Meanwhile, some relevant cryptocurrency exchanges announced that they had taken precautionary measures by blocking the influencer's accounts. Bitget Turkey, among them, stated:

"We blocked the accounts of our valuable friends about 25 minutes ago. We hope everything will be compensated. Get well soon!"

Another cryptocurrency exchange, KuCoin, announced that it had taken action regarding the situation, stating:

"We are in communication with the Coin Engineer team through private channels. Also, the KuCoin accounts reported are closed for trading and withdrawal. We will continue to provide the necessary support and guidance until the issue is completely resolved."

One of Turkey's leading crypto exchanges, Bitci, also announced that it had taken action. The CEO of the exchange, Ahmet Onur Yeygün, stated that they had securely locked the relevant accounts.

Lloyds Reports Disturbing Rise in Crypto Fraud

According to Lloyds Bank, the number of reported cryptocurrency fraud cases increased by 23% between January and September 2023 compared to the previous year. The losses associated with these frauds averaged £10,741, showing an increase from last year's £7,010. This type of consumer fraud has surpassed other fraudulent activities such as purchase and love scams. Liz Ziegler, Fraud Prevention Director at Lloyds Bank, emphasized:

"Investing can be a great way to make money. However, you need to ensure that your money is going to a reliable, legitimate company. Crypto is a highly risky asset class and largely unregulated, making it an attractive area for scammers to exploit. If something goes wrong, getting your money back is not very likely. As can be expected, social media platforms are the main breeding ground for such scams."