Fraudsters are using the Queen’s death to lure people into cryptocurrency and NFT schemes, security experts have warned.
The malicious scheme involves sharing in investment projects that offer cryptographic tokens and NFTs named after Queen Elizabeth II as a way to “pay homage to Her Majesty the Queen”.These sites are new and may not be secure, so if the site’s database is compromised, any crypto wallet information you enter could be leaked.
Sites that do not protect personal information in any way offer commemorative coins or T-shirts to unsuspecting users, and users are not directed to a particularly secure page during the payment process. This means that card data, addresses and usernames can be stolen if the database is compromised.
“The passing of Queen Elizabeth II shocked the world and won the hearts of millions. To honor Her Majesty, many users wanted to buy commemorative products or tokens with her image. But most of the sites that offer such goods are hastily created by people who don’t even think about their own security,
When purchasing from such sites, please be aware that many of them are not secure and that data entered on such sites may be at risk of leakage, so remember to protect yourself with strong security solutions. There’s also the option of only buying from trusted stores and being skeptical of ultra-low prices, which cybercriminals can use to get your payment information.
The UK’s National Cyber Security Center has also issued a fraud alert amid the bereavement, with a likely increase in phishing emails attempting to obtain personal data through malicious links.
As with any major event, criminals can use Her Majesty’s death to their advantage. Although the NCSC, which is part of GCHQ, has seen no substantial evidence of this, as always you should be aware that this is a possibility and pay attention to emails, texts and other communications relating to Her Majesty’s passing and make arrangements for her funeral.
