[Scam Alert] Scammer Impersonating Binance on Telegram

[pawanjain]

We all know how we get added to some groups without our consent on Telegram. Anybody can create a group impersonating anyone on Telegram.
This time the scammers are trying to impersonate Binance and lure users to fall for their scam.
First they add you to their group. The group has a pinned message which says Binance is launching a BNB smart contract.
It says to deposit your ETH to their smart contract address and then you will receive 15% extra profit for it.

Funny thing is, they have even attached a link to binance blog for awards. This isn't related to what info they have posted on the pinned message.
Below is a screenshot.




And as expected, when I sent a message with the keyword "scam" in the group it removed me from the group.




I have posted this because most of the people use Binance and beginners are prone to get attracted to such schemes.
They might fall for it thinking it is indeed Binance.

How to find out it's a scam:

1. No reputed exchange will add you to their group. Just think, why would Binance add you to their telegram group ?
    Besides that the number of people in the group are too less for such a reputed exchange. If it were a real Binance group it would have far more members than that.

2. Getting instant 15% profit ? Too good to be true right. Every scheme which is too good to be true is probably a scam.

3. If it were not a scam then it would not have removed me from the group on accusing it for a scam.

Don't fall for such traps. Save your crypto and invest wisely. #DYOR

[Coyster]

This is a good guide to avoid getting scammed when you're added to groups on Telegram without your notice, but then again I'd like to bring another easier way to prevent being added to the Telegram group in the first place, if you do not want Telegram groups to add you without your consent, you go to the "settings" part of your Telegram profile, you select "privacy and security", then you select "groups" and change it to just "contacts", making it just possible for only people in your contact list to add you to groups in Telegram. Having said that, you can also go a step further for your security, you click on "add exceptions" to make it sterner, by selecting people that 'will or will not' be able to add you to Telegram groups even if they are in your contact list.

[khaled0111]

Thanks op for the heads up. Funny thing is that they are asking to send 1 ETH at least. They are too ambitious!

Well, this is one of the reasons why I don't use telegram anymore. Even if you edit the settings to disallow automatic invités and only join legit channels, you will still find scammers posting phishing links and links to malwares.
If am interested in a project, I just follow their news on their official website or Twitter account.

[Ryker1]

^[snip]
How to find out it's a scam:

1. No reputed exchange will add you to their group. Just think, why would Binance add you to their telegram group ?
    Besides that the number of people in the group are too less for such a reputed exchange. If it were a real Binance group it would have far more members than that.

Well in the first place, you can sense that the group is a scam or a fake one. But for me, this is not new in telegram --there are too many of them who try to impersonate those who very well-known identity or a group and the number you become suspicious of is when you added to their group without knowing you. However, you can change the setting in your Telegram so that no one can add you to any group except your friend, just click the 3 lines above and find Setting > Privacy and Security > Groups > the last one is ^{[Who can add me to group chats?]} you can choose, My contacts. You will never experience this that someone invites you to the group.

[cryptoperkele]

I've been thinking that telegram could benefit from registering official channels and accounts and marking them clearly. Something like in twitter with those blue official symbols. The amount of scamming in telegram is unreal and probably working for the scammers because they keep on coming.

[TheMimic1]

Right now I can boldly say that all popular crypto exchanges and platforms have impersonated scammers on telegram, if you are a newbie to crypto be expecting strangers texting you to fix a problem for you once you make complains in the official channel on telegram, beware

[lienfaye]

I have posted this because most of the people use Binance and beginners are prone to get attracted to such schemes.
They might fall for it thinking it is indeed Binance.

Yes, usually newbies are prone to become a victim of these scammers and might bite the offer thinking that its a real Binance group that offering 15% profit for depositing eth. This is a good awareness for everyone to always verify if you're in the right group of the sites that you are following.

Anyway if someone doesnt know yet, we can stop these people (not in our contacts) from adding us to the group that they promote. On telegram app just go to Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Groups & Channels and check off My Contacts instead of Everybody.

[Darker45]

If I were a newbie, I'd rather be safe than sorry and just generalize that every offer for a profit through social media is more likely a scam than not. And if that offer comes with a condition that you need to make a deposit first, then that is an additional red flag.

Everybody should just keep in mind not to ever send money to anybody met online. If there's a transaction involving money, it should be carefully verified through official sites and not through social media channels.

[Maus0728]

On a side note, you can also report them to [1] https://www.t.me/notoscam. Just include the screenshot of the scammer's message along with the link of his/her telegram username. It's a handy tool to use if you know that there is something fishy going on.

Note: If a scammer is pretending to be you, contact @NoToScam

[2] How Effective Telegram SCAM report ?

[aysg76]

They imposter themselves as the official telegram handle of some reputed exchange like in your case binance Coinbase and will try to convince you that payments have been send to the other people also but it's surely a scam.People become too blind to follow their instructions and hence become victim of such scams like why would any exchange demand any money from you? You can change your telegram settings so that nobody can add you into any group without your permission so follow these steps:

1) Open Telegram
2)Go to settings
3)Click on Privacy and Security
4) Click on Groups option
5) Who can add you to group> My Contacts

This way you can help yourself and safeguard your interest and funds from these scams but always be careful on online sites not to click on any fake links and deposit funds to scammers address in hope of gaining huge profits as you will loose what you have also.

[cryptoaddictchie]

If you are new to telegram then talking to strangers isnt a good start. Many have been usimg this social app to disguise and thats intentionally just to scam some free money. Everyday I had witnessed dfferent post saying that someone hacked them or got scammed. What you expect if you keep talking to them. You shouls have a hunch that these people are bot gonna do good.

My piece of advise, when someone message you on telegram and you dont know it then just avoid it. Better to be safe than sorry.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

I've been thinking that telegram could benefit from registering official channels and accounts and marking them clearly. Something like in twitter with those blue official symbols.

That's already visible on telegram, verified account are tick/market blue. Binance offical channel and group on telegram are marked blue so are other verified groups. For groups or channels that haven't been marked, probably it's because they haven't applied as just like other social media platforms, you have to apply to be verified. Telegram verification is done by bot and requires you to just have verified accounts on other social media platforms (atleast two).

The verification system isn't yet perfect but atleast it could reduced the level of successful scams by duplicate groups claiming to be the real deal if all the exchange verify their accounts but the catch here is, they have to have verified accounts on other platform before telegram will verify them.. Do note though that the account been verified doesn't stop scammers from trying to scams gullible individuals therefore it's best we take been precautions seriously.

It's ridiculous how you'll trust some random PM claiming to be able the solve your problem when the phrase 'admins don't pm first' is common round all community. If you need help use the website support system and not rely on social accounts (that can be easily compromised at anytime).

[tranthidung]

Impersonators can use some methods

• Use fake name with some similar characters of real account
• Hide username, but fake one into Bio area. If you are careless, you might think what you see in Bio area is username. It's not, in fact.

Some good topics to avoid scam, impersonators on Telegram.

• Telegram Scams
• Some Telegram tips for newcomers in the crypto community
• Do this if you don't want to be dragged to different telegram ICOs
• Fight Telegram Impersonators With A Bit Of Common Sense And A Dash Of Vigilance

[Bagong91]

In telegram this kind of fraud has been very much, has often happened. For beginners who have just joined Telegram, they will definitely become their targets and it is impossible for those who have joined for a long time to be hit if they are not careful

[TheNineClub]

We all know how we get added to some groups without our consent on Telegram. Anybody can create a group impersonating anyone on Telegram.
This time the scammers are trying to impersonate Binance and lure users to fall for their scam.
First they add you to their group. The group has a pinned message which says Binance is launching a BNB smart contract.
It says to deposit your ETH to their smart contract address and then you will receive 15% extra profit for it.

Funny thing is, they have even attached a link to binance blog for awards. This isn't related to what info they have posted on the pinned message.
Below is a screenshot.




And as expected, when I sent a message with the keyword "scam" in the group it removed me from the group.




I have posted this because most of the people use Binance and beginners are prone to get attracted to such schemes.
They might fall for it thinking it is indeed Binance.

How to find out it's a scam:

1. No reputed exchange will add you to their group. Just think, why would Binance add you to their telegram group ?
    Besides that the number of people in the group are too less for such a reputed exchange. If it were a real Binance group it would have far more members than that.

2. Getting instant 15% profit ? Too good to be true right. Every scheme which is too good to be true is probably a scam.

3. If it were not a scam then it would not have removed me from the group on accusing it for a scam.

Don't fall for such traps. Save your crypto and invest wisely. #DYOR

Yup, these types of scams have been going around for some time now, I have reported multiple ones where you have to deposit some amount to get a much bigger amount back. If anything sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Don't know if you reported this in the scams & accusations thread, but if not, please do as we want noobies to check that thread reularly.

[passwordnow]

They really are constructing believable promos and giveaways just to make people from their scam. They're improving as if they're looking legitimate with those words but it's no different from the 'send this amount, I'll send back more'. Thanks for the heads up op.
For people who are hooked with such promos, you should always look at the official website to verify if there's a giveaway in existence so that nobody won't fall for it.

[tranthidung]

They really are constructing believable promos and giveaways just to make people from their scam. They're improving as if they're looking legitimate with those words but it's no different from the 'send this amount, I'll send back more'.

It's double scam.

Send 1 and get 2 back. It is clearly a scam if we have fresh mind and are not too greed. The minimum amount of each sending in that scam is 1 ETH. Honestly, it is a big fund and if anyone can trust it, do 1 ETH transaction just to get back more, they are very naively.

• It is a mutated scam, but somewhat similar to that one Beware of "Pay original fine" - a scam method. Scam exchange arbitrarily locks user account, then ask for additional deposit as fine fee in order to unfreeze user account.
• Some other scam on Youtube, years ago
  
  • Scammers on Youtube. Don't fall into this scam trap and lose money, guys
  • Youtube scam channels. Please spend your time to report them and take them down

[Kontibruno]

Scam in the Telegram app has become very rampant. In just a few months since I joined the crypto business, I have been added to 5 different scam groups that offered to sell bitcoin at a ridiculously cheap price. The very first one I was added to got me suspicious, when I was added to more groups with similar M.O, I understood the game they were playing and exited.

[tranthidung]

Scam in the Telegram app has become very rampant. In just a few months since I joined the crypto business, I have been added to 5 different scam groups that offered to sell bitcoin at a ridiculously cheap price. The very first one I was added to got me suspicious, when I was added to more groups with similar M.O, I understood the game they were playing and exited.

Have you fixed it yet? If not, please go ahead and do it now as follows for your Telegram account

• Settings > Privacy and Security > Groups & channels: Change it from Everybody to My contacts
• You will not be added to any group by strangers or scammers.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Scam in the Telegram app has become very rampant. In just a few months since I joined the crypto business, I have been added to 5 different scam groups that offered to sell bitcoin at a ridiculously cheap price.

Well atleast you're been welcomed properly as I consider you having to experience one of this scams attempts as a way of welcoming you to the cryptocurency industry lol. There's no individual that haven't experienced one or two of this scams attempts provided you have spent some amount of months in the space so you're not alone on this. Here's some advice that'll help reduce this, be mindful of the groups you join on telegram. Avoid most of this airdrop groups, signals groups etc as they're the target of scammers.

Soon you'll start recieving offers in your dm from "professional traders or investors" as they call themselves, offering you mouth watering deals and some looks very realistic from the way they present their offers. Don't fall victim to this scam, instantly block and report the accounts when they contact you. This scammers are getting their victims form the groups they're part of which is why you have to be selective of groups you join.

The telegram scams aren't totally new, they're just reinventing new methods of trying same tricks. You should also be ready to recieve offers from Asian related scammers wanting you to help them withdraw from their local exchange because they have been banned but as a foreigner you can access the exchange although there's a catch as you'll have to deposit inorder to withdraw. Be cautious, telegram is now the base of scammers.