New Scam Targeting Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT Holders
Scammers in the non-fungible tokens (NFTs) sector are finding new ways to deceive collectors. The latest scam involves individuals pretending to be journalists from Forbes magazine and specifically targeting Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT owners.
BAYC Collector Shares Encounter with Scammers
A BAYC owner named “Crumz” recently shared his experience with these scammers. He received a direct message on X (formerly Twitter) from someone claiming to be Forbes editor Robert Lafranco. Intrigued, Crumz did a quick online search that seemed to confirm the person’s identity, but it was all part of an elaborate scheme.
The fake journalist expressed interest in gathering firsthand accounts from BAYC owners and scheduled a Zoom call with Crumz. However, they failed to show up for the first call and rescheduled for later.
Red Flags During the Call
During the rescheduled call, Crumz noticed several red flags. The scammers refused to activate their cameras, claimed technical difficulties, and another person claiming to be Forbes’ research director joined the conversation.
They exhibited suspicious behavior like using multiple call links, requesting permission to record the screen with a separate bot, and asking Crumz to find a banana resembling his Bored Ape character.
Crumz’s Quick Action Prevents Theft
Crumz excused himself momentarily during the call and noticed the scammers attempting to take control of his computer when he returned. Luckily, all his valuable NFTs were safely stored in cold storage, preventing theft. He shut down his computer to cut off any potential remote access the scammers may have had.
Decline in BAYC Sales and Market Engagement
BAYC has experienced a decline in key metrics recently. The latest NFT data shows a decrease in sales, sales volume, and primary sales. The number of sales dropped by 33.59%, with only 87 sales reported compared to 131 the previous day.
There was also a decrease of 38.02% in sales volume in USD, with the current volume at $2 million compared to $3 million on Sunday. Primary sales saw a 100% decrease, while secondary sales volume declined by 37.76%.
Hot Take: Protect Yourself from NFT Scams
Scammers are constantly finding new ways to exploit NFT collectors. It’s crucial to stay vigilant and protect yourself from these scams. Verify the identity of anyone reaching out to you, be cautious about sharing personal information or allowing remote access to your devices, and ensure your valuable NFTs are stored securely. Stay safe and be aware of potential threats in the NFT space.
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