Are FTX Users Facing a Phishing Attack? Customers Get Suspicious Emails: Report

Several users of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX could be facing a phishing attack. According to a report by CoinDesk, suspicious password reset emails are being sent out to users from the exchange’s official customer support email, [email protected].

🚨 Several users of bankrupt crypto exchange FTX are being targeted today A potential phishing attack, being sent a "reset password" request from the exchange's official customer support emailThe email was sent by [email protected] - the official email address before the… pic.twitter.com/DOTucjh36b

A Potential Phishing Attack?

Phishing is an online campaign through which users are sent fake emails, text messages or phone calls, in order to obtain sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. According to CoinDesk, the links attached to the suspicious emails direct users to the bankruptcy claims portal.

Finance Magnates reported that FTX, which collapsed last November, recently disclosed plans to launch a claims portal, claims.ftx.com, for customers owed by the exchange to state their claims against it. The move came as a bankruptcy court in Delaware, United States, ordered customers of the failed crypto trading platform and its affiliated entities to submit their ‘proofs of claim’ on or before 4 pm EST on September 29, 2023.

The FTX Debtors’ “Customer Bar Date” has been set for September 29, 2023 at 4 PM ET. To streamline the process for customers, the FTX Debtors are finalizing an online claims portal at https://t.co/DkYi2hDLbI. FTX Debtors will announce when the portal is active.

With the deadline drawing nearer, it appears that these users have become the target of a phishing campaign. Finance Magnates is yet to receive a response to its request for comment on the development. Previously, FTX disclosed that it had recovered $7 billion out of the $8.7 billion owed to customers.

Earlier in the month, FTX warned customers to stay on the alert for ‘phishing attempt links from other channels’. The bankrupt firm said such channels “may appear to look like the FTX Debtors’ online claims portal.”

(3/4) Please be aware of phishing attempt links from other channels, which may appear to look like the FTX Debtors' online claims portal.

In October, a month before FTX filed for bankruptcy, the crypto trading platform suffered a phishing attack and subsequently promised to compensate victims to the sum of almost $6 million. At the time, the attackers gained access to the application programming interface (API) keys of the victims, Finance Magnates reported.

As of the fourth quarter of 2022, 2.3% of all phishing attacks were directed at the cryptocurrency industry, according to a recent report. Targets of such attacks include crypto PR businesses, decentralized finance exchanges, and wallet services, among others.

IBKR adds Taiwan stocks; multi-chart feature on Match-Trader; read today's news nuggets.