Since cryptocurrency became popular, scams have been rife throughout the industry, and now dating apps have become a prime target for such cybercriminals to get their hands on other people’s crypto.
But why are catfishers keen on crypto? And how are they scamming people out of their cash?
Why Are Criminals Targeting Dating Sites and Apps?
The fact that dating apps are simply an open door through which cybercriminals can access vulnerable individuals plays a big role in how popular crypto dating scams have become. People on dating apps are typically looking for love, and so are willing to let their guard down more than they usually would. So, if a cybercriminal can successfully manipulate someone’s emotions on a dating platform, it becomes much easier to scam them.
Of course, cryptocurrency is also anonymous, and isn’t legally protected in the same way that traditional tender is. These factors make decentralized digital currencies highly desirable for criminals. Scammers can also access a wide range of age demographics via dating apps, so targeting young, older, or otherwise vulnerable individuals is much easier.
Certain operating systems are more vulnerable to dating app scams too. For example, in Asia, people using iPhones are much more at risk of these scams because cybercriminals take advantage of Apple’s Super Signature distribution feature to gain access to and target Apple users. Through this method alone, scammers have…
