In a recent development, KuCoin, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, has issued a critical warning to its users regarding phishing scams.
KuCoin reported that scammers have been sending messages that mimic KuCoin's branding. These attempts are designed to trick users into believing that they are interacting with the official KuCoin platform.
"We've noted reports of unexpected SMS texts. Exercise caution with any unsolicited messages. Real updates from KuCoin will always be relayed through our official outlets. Remain vigilant, stay protected," the crypto exchange said in a tweet.
KuCoin further stated that authentic KuCoin communications are issued directly from its verified platforms. To combat the increase in scam SMS operations and improve the security of KuCoin accounts, KuCoin announced changes to its SMS notification service in May 2023.
Johnny Lyu, KuCoin CEO, issued a similar warning, urging users to beware of phishing scams. He stated that scammers are exploiting FUD to deceive users of not only KuCoin but also other exchanges.
Beware of phishing scams. Scammers are exploiting FUD to deceive users of not only KuCoin but also other exchanges. Stay vigilant and DO NOT click on suspicious links or files.⁰ ⁰#KuCoin is not closing down. Your security is our priority. You have my words. https://t.co/zN5oWsNPEy
— Johnny_KuCoin (@lyu_johnny) April 5, 2024
He flags one such fraudulent scheme that falsely claimed that KuCoin was shutting down, urging users to withdraw their assets hastily.
In light of this, the KuCoin CEO warns crypto users to stay vigilant and not click on suspicious links or files. Lyu made it clear that KuCoin will not be closing down.
In late March, KuCoin and two of its founders were charged with breaking anti-money laundering rules by U.S. federal prosecutors. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which controls derivatives markets, also filed a lawsuit against the firm.
The news initially triggered a wave of withdrawals on the platform before stability returned. After the dust settled, scammers appear to want to capitalize on the FUD to trick unsuspecting users with the intent of stealing their funds.