Currently dealing with the worst day of my life in crypto

[Rikafip]

There are number of telegram scam cases like adding you to some fake groups and now this auto download.So for those who don't know how to turn it on here is the procedure for you all

Yep, the one where they add you to fake groups without your permission is probably the most popular way to get scammed on Telegram, and yet again it happens because that option is enabled by default, same like it is for automatically downloading files. And as we know, new users rarely bother to check apps thoroughly.

These two options being enabled by default never made much sense to me, especially since Telegram is privacy oriented chatting platform (or at least they claim to be) and its the cause of like 90% of the Telegram scams.

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[KingsDen]

Put yourself together mate, you will overcome this phase of life. Hacks, thefts and scams are the things we need to deal with continually as far as cryptocurrency is concerned. The scammers become smart as the days progress and we need to be smarter in order to survive.

I have a smart phone where I saved many files. I was robbed of my two laptops same day, so I decided not to get another but uses my phone for all works. I have my wallets, emails, bank apps and so on in the phone.
What I simply did was to buy another device which I use for any online work. I only use the old phone if I want to perform transactions and immediately after that,  it's going offline. That's how I manage my small fund.

[Nitt371]

Man, honestly, that sounds terrible, I’m so sorry I would never wish for anyone to come through that. It’s great though that you’re trying to hold on and rationally think in this situation. You did the right thing posting here, at least you’ll find yourself not alone, phishing is a common problem in the crypto world.

[Kelvinid]

I imagine how smart they are...even a techy person and even we are much careful not to get hacked but now, as technology continues to improve, that was easier for them.

I can't really expect a PDF file may contain malware until @aysg76 post shows the link to how the trick being made. We couldn't be really confident especially when dealing with other people as they can be people with interests, we don't know. Like what happened to you OP, it was unexpected.

Hope you can move on so fast OP and be careful the next time.

[cheezcarls]

And not just that, the hacker didn't stop messing me up. When I was in the bathroom chatting on my Telegram, I noticed that it auto logged out. I went back to my computer quickly and found out that my Telegram was compromised and the hacker was doing mass messaging to my contacts with the attached malware. That same malware who drained my 3 wallets worth $12k combined.

I quickly fought off the hacker from gaining full control of my Telegram account in which I enabled the password and recovery email because mobile phone wasn't enough. And finally yes, I have gained full control again and making the password much more difficult for the hacker to penetrate.

It was a tough and emotional 2 days for me. Yesterday my wallets are drained, today it was my Telegram got compromised (but regained full control now). Also, I made sure all of my social media channels, emails, etc., are now having multiple extra layers of protection just to protect myself from this mess. And it's not just me that was targeted, but there are lots of them too that was being victimized like crazy.

[Bhig Daddy]

I'm sorry for what occurred to you, and I can appreciate how upsetting it must be to lose a sum of money this size that you have spent years earning. Don't lose hope; I am confident that your efforts will continue to pay off. Your knowledge will both prevent you from repeating this error and assist others in learning from it to prevent similar errors.

[PowerGlove]

{...} It was a tough and emotional 2 days for me {...}

I feel for you OP. The theft of $12k (especially when it's hard-won savings) is a very bitter pill to swallow.

Having to start again from (almost) scratch is very demoralizing. Don't get despondent, you've saved up this much before and you can do it again. Besides, adversity has its benefits: “A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner.” [1]

Take this time to internalize what you've learned and then keep on hustling!

[1] Author unknown, a variation was attributed to Franklin D. Roosevelt but (as I understand it) it's an old english proverb.

[Outhue]

Sigh! 12k is a lot I am sorry this happened to you, I as a person have come to realize that we need to put aside a crypto wallet for storing assets only, have another for trying out new things that you aren't used to before, airdrops and other links clicking related, those hackers will never stop.

[alik111]

Thats why we must be aware and be secured in crypto market. It's a lesson to all new and old users that you guys should put your private keys offline and should have knowledge about how hackers are behaving in the crypto market. We all have learnt how hackers can destroy anyone.

[leverageguy]

Mate, I understand your pain right now. Honestly, I would be devastated if I were in your position. Next time, remember to put your funds in a wallet and double check the users you are talking to, even though I am sure that you don’t need reminding after this.

[Cryptomultiplier]

The discomfort you must be feeling inside maybe left unexplained because words will be quite exhausted to explain it. A strong lesson indeed is to learn how to prevent a recurrence. Your story also is one that others can learn from because everyone has experienced or have close persons who have fallen victim to these scammers somehow and wondered how it happened.
I however employ you to not relent in further efforts to use Bitcoin, but instead apply caution when making trade with unknown persons and also using a 2fA is much advised.

[Lucius]

Mate, I understand your pain right now. Honestly, I would be devastated if I were in your position. Next time, remember to put your funds in a wallet and double check the users you are talking to, even though I am sure that you don’t need reminding after this.

Pay attention to the dates, because I'm pretty sure that the OP accepted his situation after 5 months - so even though it's not easy to lose money that means a lot in your life, it's still not the most valuable thing that every person has. Every day is a new opportunity to earn something, and I'm sure that the OP didn't give up and is now much more careful than before.

[Wakate]

This is very pain dude ama I feel your pains right now because I had been hacked before but I only lost little of my little savings then in crypto and I know how it felt like losing a total crypto portfolio. You need to be strong op because right now you just need to be strong and move on because that has already happened and show be a lesson to everyone of us that are clicking on unsecure files that we are not sure about.

I could also remember losing my entire crypto portfolio 2nd day of January few years back which was one of the most things that had ever happened to me in my life but I took courage to stay strong and focus and keep moving.

[taufik123]

And not just that, the hacker didn't stop messing me up. When I was in the bathroom chatting on my Telegram, I noticed that it auto logged out. I went back to my computer quickly and found out that my Telegram was compromised and the hacker was doing mass messaging to my contacts with the attached malware. That same malware who drained my 3 wallets worth $12k combined.

I quickly fought off the hacker from gaining full control of my Telegram account in which I enabled the password and recovery email because mobile phone wasn't enough. And finally yes, I have gained full control again and making the password much more difficult for the hacker to penetrate.

It was a tough and emotional 2 days for me. Yesterday my wallets are drained, today it was my Telegram got compromised (but regained full control now). Also, I made sure all of my social media channels, emails, etc., are now having multiple extra layers of protection just to protect myself from this mess. And it's not just me that was targeted, but there are lots of them too that was being victimized like crazy.

This incident is a strong warning for you to increase security on some accounts and devices that you use. A few years ago I also experienced the same thing, where the device I was using was infected with malware that locked my files so that some files could not be opened. to decrypt it had to pay in bitcoin at the time worth $500. But I didn't pay for it and chose to give up some of my encrypted files and reinstall the OS used. it serves as a reminder to continue to improve security on all the devices and accounts I use. Currently, I even use 2 antiviruses for my computer device, namely Windows Defender (default windows) and Kaspersky Premium for double security. So every incoming file will be scanned and any suspicious files will be detected.


The telegram account that I use has never experienced a hacking incident.
but what happened to you made me re-upgrade my telegram account security.

Losing $12k in assets is certainly very hard because it is not easy to collect that many assets.
But of course, many people lose their assets more than you.
Don't feel hopeless because life goes on and you still have a lot to do.

[Marvell1]

~~

This incident is a strong warning for you to increase security on some accounts and devices that you use. A few years ago I also experienced the same thing, where the device I was using was infected with malware that locked my files so that some files could not be opened. to decrypt it had to pay in bitcoin at the time worth $500. But I didn't pay for it and chose to give up some of my encrypted files and reinstall the OS used. it serves as a reminder to continue to improve security on all the devices and accounts I use. Currently, I even use 2 antiviruses for my computer device, namely Windows Defender (default windows) and Kaspersky Premium for double security. So every incoming file will be scanned and any suspicious files will be detected.


The telegram account that I use has never experienced a hacking incident.
but what happened to you made me re-upgrade my telegram account security.

Losing $12k in assets is certainly very hard because it is not easy to collect that many assets.
But of course, many people lose their assets more than you.
Don't feel hopeless because life goes on and you still have a lot to do.

Coincidentally, I'm not a computer expert either so security seems to be very difficult for me. Nowadays, I have witnessed many cases of loss of crypto assets for which no one can explain the cause. But most of the cases lose money like that, people will blame the owner for exposing the private key or having been hacked by a hacker without his knowledge.

Currently, I also use 2 anti-virus software like you and another thing is that I use 2 separate computers. One is used for crypto-related activities like trading, where install a wallet that stores assets and never downloads or clicks on a strange link or file, the other one I will use for daily tasks. I still can't say it will be 100% secure, but it's the best I can do.

[Frankolala]

You just have to move on with life its a pity that you became a victim to these hackers in this time of inflation and hardship everywhere. That is a huge sum of money in my country. I feel for you mate

  aysg76 has given a proper information on how this hackers lure you into their trap and also how not to give them access thorough your settings. This is a lesson for everyone who always store their savings on software wallet instead of a hardware wallet,there should be no reason for not doing so as it is one of the best security measures in crypto. In crypto we are our bank ourselves so we need to secure our coins properly.

[Daniel91]

OP, I'm very sorry about what happened to you.
Crypto is not exactly the most pleasant place in the world and there are a lot of scammers who want to take advantage of other crypto users.
A similar thing happened to a friend of mine recently.
He was very excited about crypto and opened a wallet on Blockchain.
He got some btc in that wallet and the next day he ran out of everything.
Most likely, he opened a fake login link of the site, gave his real login information and the scammer took everything from him.
After such an experience it is very difficult to move on but my friend did not give up, after that he became very careful about internet security and is currently doing very well with crypto trading.

[taufik123]

-snip- I still can't say it will be 100% secure, but it's the best I can do.

No system is safe 100%, all have the possibility to be hacked. But as a security developer, you also need to continue to develop your security system because hackers are always looking for new loopholes. and the most important point is how as a user to use the security properly and not be careless in everything even if it's a small thing. Sometimes the system used is quite secure, but the user does not personally apply this security and can fall into the traps that have been prepared by scammers. Being a smart user will save your data and assets.

[Franctoshi]

I so much feel your pain right now, This is one of the challenges faced with storing cryptos when one is not taking appropriate measures in securing their funds, just one single mistake could get you back to square 1. However move on mate and never walk in this part of laxity again, be brave because it has happened, it has happened. Therefore focus on rebuilding for things are once again gonna be fine with you, so far there's life there's hope.

[Mpamaegbu]

$12,000 is a huge amount of cash OP, whether one is from a third world country or from the developed world. It is a substantial amount of cash. Sorry for your loss. By the way, thanks for sharing your sad experience in order to warn the rest of us.

I'm guessing this happened on a PC, sigh! Its always the PC, there are many ways to fall victim to hackers on a PC than on other devices out there, the PC is just too complicated when it comes to trying to stay safe and out of trouble, my advice is never to use a PC for crypto wallets at all .

Honestly, this makes me paranoid whenever I think of it. PCs that are supposed to make browsing very accessible are now hack prone more than phones. This is going to be discouraging for a great number of people, especially those who want to drop their mobile phones for PCs and laptops.