SNEAK PEEK
- A Bored Ape Yacht Club member named Crumz narrowly escaped a sophisticated scam disguised as an interview opportunity with Forbes.
- The scammer impersonated Forbes editor Robert LaFanco and contacted Crumz directly by message.
- Red flags included a non-premium Zoom account and a request to use a separate screen recording bot.
In a recent turn of events, the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) community has witnessed an alarming scam attempt. A member of this prestigious NFT group, known as Crumz, narrowly escaped a well-orchestrated scheme. The scam, posing as an opportunity for an interview with Forbes, targeted Crumz through a direct message from an impersonator of Robert LaFanco, a real Forbes editor.
Crumz faced several red flags during the interview, including the interviewer’s non-premium Zoom account and a request to use a separate recorder bot for screen recording. Despite these signs, Crumz initially complied with the requests. The scammer asked Crumz to fetch a banana, supposedly to add a personal touch related to his BAYC NFT. However, Crumz later realized that this request was a ploy to distract him and gain control of his computer remotely.
🚨🚨SCAM ALERT!!🚨🚨
I just spent the last 2hours on Zoom with '@Forbes' it was pretty sophisticated and well thought out because I'm usually on high alert but luckily I wasn't caught. Here's what they did. 🧵1/8— Crumz 🇮🇪 (@crumz10) November 26, 2023
Upon refusing to leave his computer, Crumz observed the scammers attempting to take over his screen. He acted quickly to prevent any potential theft of his valuable digital assets. This incident highlights the growing sophistication of scams within the NFT community. Similar scams have been reported, involving fake journalists luring NFT owners into compromising their security for a supposed media feature.
This case serves as a warning to the NFT community, particularly high-value asset holders like BAYC members. The incident underscores the importance of vigilance and skepticism when dealing with unsolicited offers, especially those involving access to personal or digital assets. The BAYC community and broader NFT holders are now more aware of these tactics, thanks to the sharing of this experience by Crumz and others who have encountered similar situations.
As the NFT market thrives, collectors must stay informed and cautious. This incident not only reflects the vulnerabilities within the digital asset space but also the resilience of its members in the face of evolving cyber threats.
