L’ASIC met en garde contre de fausses arnaques de trading de crypto sur WhatsApp

Le régulateur des entreprises australien, l'ASIC, a publié un avertissement concernant des escroqueries sophistiquées en cryptomonnaies opérant via des applications de messagerie et des groupes d'investissement en ligne. Les fraudeurs utilisent de fausses plateformes de trading crypto pour cibler des investisseurs via WhatsApp, Telegram et des communautés sur les réseaux sociaux se faisant passer pour des groupes de trading. Les arnaques emploient du contenu généré par IA et des techniques d'ingénierie sociale pour paraître crédibles, les escrocs imitant des traders et des experts financiers ayant réussi afin de renforcer leur crédibilité avant de diriger les victimes vers des plateformes frauduleuses.

How Fake Crypto Platforms Operate

According to ASIC, scammers commonly impersonate successful traders, financial experts, or well-known investment figures to build credibility before directing victims to fraudulent crypto platforms. These websites display fabricated trades, customer support features, and fake profit dashboards designed to appear legitimate despite no real trading taking place.

Money deposited into these platforms is transferred directly to scammers rather than invested into genuine assets. Victims attempting to withdraw funds are then asked to pay additional charges, including withdrawal fees, verification costs, or tax payments, before scammers eventually disappear. Some operations allow users to withdraw small amounts initially to create trust and encourage larger deposits later.

AI and Social Engineering in Crypto Fraud

Authorities warned that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence, cloned branding, fake testimonials, and other sophisticated tools to make scams harder to identify. These tactics make fraudulent operations appear more credible to potential victims.

Crypto Investment Awareness Among Australians

Moneysmart research cited by ASIC found 72% of surveyed Gen Z Australians had seen crypto advertisements on social media, while 41% said they had been approached about crypto investments. The research also found 23% owned crypto assets, with many taking a speculative or short-term trading approach.

Exigences réglementaires

L'ASIC a rappelé aux Australiens que les entreprises de cryptomonnaies proposant des services de services d'actifs virtuels doivent être enregistrées auprès d'AUSTRAC et respecter les obligations de lutte contre le blanchiment d'argent.