Deribit Issues Scam Alert

Crypto options exchange Deribit has issued a warning about fake recruiters using LinkedIn to target job seekers. The exchange raised concerns over a rising trend of scammers impersonating recruiters to deceive job applicants, especially developers and senior professionals in the cryptocurrency sector.

In a post on X on March 19, Deribit’s chief information security officer Anthony Sweeney noted a surge in scammers posing as recruiters claiming to represent Deribit. He pointed out that such fraud often starts in the cryptocurrency space before expanding to other areas.

Scammers are reportedly creating fake LinkedIn profiles, pretending to be talent scouts for Deribit. They advertise high-paying positions and privately reach out to candidates. Once in contact, they deploy various tactics to defraud victims.

Deribit highlighted several scam strategies, including requests for candidates to complete an “online assessment” that can install malware. In other instances, scammers present fake jobs with “exclusive pre-hire perks,” like discounted company shares, to illicitly extract money from victims.

Some scammers even arrange in-person meetings for purported contract signings, instructing candidates to “bring along your work laptop,” which raises the possibility of trying to steal sensitive company information.

The exchange urged job seekers to exercise caution by verifying recruiters’ profiles and job offers through official company communication channels. In January, global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike uncovered a phishing campaign that misused its recruitment emails to distribute malicious Monero mining software.

CrowdStrike explained that the scam involved fake job offers to trick individuals into downloading an application that installs the XMRig miner on their devices. Phishing emails impersonated the company’s recruitment process, guiding victims to a counterfeit website where they were prompted to download an “employee CRM application,” essentially a downloader for the cryptominer.

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