Deribit, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has issued an urgent security warning regarding a rise in sophisticated recruitment scams targeting high-level employees.
According to an official post on X, scammers are impersonating Deribit recruiters and using social engineering techniques to deceive potential victims.
These fraudulent schemes are primarily aimed at senior employees, developers, and those with sensitive access to company systems.
The scammers employ various tactics, including posting fake job listings on LinkedIn, requiring candidates to complete malware-laden “online assessments,” conducting deceptive online interviews, and even inviting victims to fake office locations under false pretenses.
Scammers Use Social Engineering to Exploit Job Seekers
Deribit’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Anthony Sweeney, took to X (formerly Twitter) to outline how these scams operate.
The scammers first set up fraudulent LinkedIn profiles claiming to represent Deribit or other reputable companies.
They then post job ads promising high salaries and exclusive benefits, targeting professionals in the crypto industry.
Once a victim is engaged, the scam diverges into multiple tactics: some are asked to download and complete an “assessment” that secretly installs malware, while others are offered fake pre-hire perks, such as discounted company shares, requiring upfront payments.
In some cases, candidates are invited to a non-existent office, such as a fake Deribit location in Los Angeles, with instructions to bring their work laptops—potentially aiming to access corporate data.
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Crypto Industry Faces Increasingly Sophisticated Fraud Attempts
The cryptocurrency industry has long been a testing ground for innovative fraud tactics, and Deribit warns that this scam is likely to spread beyond crypto firms to other sectors.
The combination of high salaries and the secrecy often associated with job searches makes professionals particularly vulnerable.
Given the increasing frequency of such incidents, Deribit has urged industry professionals to remain vigilant and thoroughly vet any unexpected job offers.
The exchange’s warning highlights the importance of awareness, as similar fraudulent schemes could soon affect other well-known companies, making it crucial for job seekers to exercise caution.
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How to Protect Yourself from Recruitment Scams
Deribit has provided key measures to help individuals avoid falling victim to these scams. First, professionals should scrutinize recruiter profiles, new accounts with limited professional connections or missing verification are red flags.
Second, job seekers should always verify the legitimacy of job offers by contacting a company’s HR department through official channels.
Third, candidates should be wary of any requests for upfront payments, suspicious assessments, or invitations to unfamiliar locations.
The company urges the public to spread awareness by sharing the security alert, ensuring that others in the industry do not fall prey to these fraudulent schemes.
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