Bitcoin Scam

A lot of internet users have never heard of Bitcoin, and scammers like it that way.

Who Is It Targeting: Email users

What Is It: A phishing scam to get you to hand over your money and information

What Are They After: There is no shortage of Bitcoin scams running these days, and many scammers actually hope you don’t know much about the cryptocurrency. Bitcoin is a type of currency that can be used for online transactions, many of them untraceable. Despite its shady uses—such as buying and selling items online that are highly illegal—Bitcoin is actually a viable form of currency. The email claims that a high-value amount of Bitcoin was placed in your account, and you are to click the link to see the transactions. Of course, the link contains harmful software that will infect your computer.

How Can You Avoid It:

• Never click a link or open an attachment in an email unless you were expecting it, no matter who it was from, due to account hacking.
• No one will ever send you free money, despite what their message claims.
• Emails like these are intended to get you to follow through with their instructions (i.e., clicking the link), but don’t do it.

If you think you may be a victim of identity theft, contact the Identity Theft Resource Center for toll-free, no-cost assistance at (888) 400-5530. Find more information about current scams and alerts here. For full details of this scam check out this article from ABC News.