Fake crypto awards on the rise during football world cup: research

Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

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Fast facts

• Kaspersky said in its research that tricksters bet on matches with fraudulent crypto awards or non-fungible token (NFT) artwork, while phishing sites try to dig out user data.
• “Fake tickets are the bait most used to lure victims. Qatar 2022 is only offering digital tickets, increasing the risk of running into malicious resources,” Kaspersky research pointed out.
• “Users of these sites will lose personal data, banking details, and money,” the report added.
• Users are asked to enter crypto wallet details for prize transfers, while scammers gain access to all their savings and wallet data.
• Scammers have also been using the world cup tournament to steal user data through fake merchandise, like fake t-shirts and signed footballs by popular players, the report said.
• Football is the most popular sport among crypto investors, with about 70% of them watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup, according to a new survey by Seychelles-based crypto exchange KuCoin.
• See related article: Hong Kong’s Resources Capital Football Club kicks off NFT goals