Forbes Impersonators Attempt to Lure Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) Holders in Elaborate Scam
NFT collector ‘Crumz’ shared a harrowing experience as scammers posed as Forbes journalists, aiming to distract Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) owners during interviews while attempting to steal their valuable apes. The scam involved a fake Forbes editor, Robert LaFanco, engaging users in interviews and employing diversionary tactics to gain control of their computers for asset theft.
🚨🚨SCAM ALERT!!🚨🚨
I just spent the last 2hours on Zoom with ‘@Forbes‘ it was pretty sophisticated and well thought out because I’m usually on high alert but luckily I wasn’t caught. Here’s what they did. 🧵1/8— Crumz 🇮🇪 (@crumz10) November 26, 2023
Elaborate Ruse Uncovered: Attempted Distraction with Banana Request
During the fraudulent interview, the scammer requested the BAYC owner, ‘Crumz,’ to retrieve a banana for a photo. Sensing something amiss, ‘Crumz’ realized the ploy was a distraction intended to take him away from his computer, enabling the scammer to seize control and pilfer his assets. Quick thinking and awareness prevented a potential loss.
🧵8/8
Hopefully I’m safe now. Don’t think they can still control my computer when I turn it back on.
Please be safe out there, it could’ve been a dreadful day today— Crumz 🇮🇪 (@crumz10) November 26, 2023
Warnings and Community Vigilance Amidst Rising Scams
Crypto casino Rollbit partner ‘@3orovik’ issued a warning to followers, highlighting the deceptive tactics used by scammers impersonating Forbes journalists.
⚠️ WATCH OUT ⚠️
A fake Forbes journalist is reaching out to BAYC holders for a fake interview
During this interview he attempts to trick you to gain access to your PC and steal your expensive NFTs
It’s very unlikely Forbes would reach out 👇 pic.twitter.com/ViYrT0mk1l
— borovik.eth (@3orovik) November 27, 2023
Other community members, including Laura Rod, reported similar encounters. The BAYC community emphasizes vigilance, and industry observers note the prevalence of scammers on Twitter often using BAYC profile pictures.
