By akademiotoelektronik, 08/08/2022

Decryptors A Bitcoin scam in the colors of the press promoted using Facebook advertisements

A false article that usurpes the visual identity of the press is used to bait Quebec Internet users to cryptocurrency exchange platforms which are subject to several online reports for scam.The article, accessible by several different links, was promoted using Facebook advertisements since at least January 4.They have now been removed by the social network.

A text by Nicholas de Rosa

La multinationale Tesla a décidé d’aider les personnes dans le besoin et a commencé à mettre en place son projet Bitcoin Bank en investissant 1,5 milliard de dollars dans Bitcoin, peut-on lire dans le faux article.However, no project in this way exists.

Selon le faux article, Bitcoin Bank permet de tirer profit de [plusieurs] cryptomonnaies, même dans un marché baissier. Il utilise l'intelligence artificielle (IA) pour gérer automatiquement les ventes à court et à long terme, ce qui vous permet de gagner de l'argent 24 heures sur 24, même pendant votre sommeil, poursuit-il.

The director of media relations of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF), Sylvain Théberge, warns against attractive offers that guarantee returns. Tout ce qui parle de profits assurés, tout ce qui parle de rendement qui apparaît beaucoup trop beau pour être vrai, c'est immédiatement des drapeaux rouges, dit-il.

The Internet user is invited to provide personal information to register for the exchange of cryptocurrency to the false article: first name, family name, email address and telephone number. Cela mène vers une plateforme où il faut effectuer un dépôt initial, généralement de 320 $. Le faux article affirme qu’un gestionnaire de compte personnel communique ensuite avec les investisseurs par téléphone.

A reader who registered before reporting this advertisement to the decryptors led to the C4U Capital website, which is part of the AMF black list of websites and companies carrying out potentially illegal high -risk activities at theQuebec.

When a business finds itself on such a list, that means that we have, as a regulator, very convincing reasons to believe that this company is fraudulent.Sometimes it can be calls that we have received, so we can establish this decision on very specific elements.Sometimes this is information that has been received from other regulators. Ce sont des organisations problématiques avec lesquelles les gens ne devraient pas faire affaire, fait savoir Sylvain Théberge.

Voici quelques-unes des publicités frauduleuses mettant en vedette Elon Musk sur Facebook. Photo : Capture d'écran

Contacted by the decryptors, the press said it was aware of this scam. Nous sommes au fait de cette utilisation de notre logo et [de notre] signature visuelle à des fins frauduleuses. Notre équipe juridique est sur le cas afin d’analyser et de rectifier la situation, a réagi sa vice-présidente communications et philanthropie, Florence Turpault-Desroches.

Scams promoted on Facebook

We have listed more than forty of these deceptive Facebook advertisements leading to a false website containing the article, Thursday and Friday.Several of them were removed before we even contact the social network about them, but others were only withdrawn after being reported.

We have also listed at least three other Facebook advertisements promoting false articles in almost identical French, presented, however, on a website that looks like that of British tabloid The Daily Mirror.

Un autre exemple de l'arnaque qui court sur Facebook. Photo : Capture d'écran

Selon les politiques de Facebook, les publicités ne doivent pas faire la promotion de produits, de services, de stratagèmes ou d’offres associés à des pratiques trompeuses ou malhonnêtes, y compris pour escroquer des gens ou leur subtiliser de l’argent ou des renseignements. Elles ne peuvent pas non plus promouvoir les échanges de cryptomonnaie ou des produits et services connexes sans autorisation écrite préalable.

We do not authorize the advertisements that mislead people using images of public figures, said Alex Kucharski, the Director of Canadian Communications at Meta, the Facebook mother company.We have devoted significant resources to the fight against this type of advertisement by improving automated systems that remove advertisements before people see them, and we invest in new tools to make them more effective.

Meta also said that she is currently testing a new system of reporting of misleading or fraudulent advertisements in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand, and that he would soon arrive in other countries.In addition, the company encourages its users to report any advertising that breaks its rules.

Meta did not answer our specific questions about the reasons why some of the advertisements had been allowed on the platform, even if they broke more than one rule.

Cryptomonnai scams, more and more frequent

Cryptocurrency is a bait of choice for scammers.According to a PRC press release, the number of fraud incidents linked to cryptocurrency increased 400 % from 2017 to 2020.Canadians have lost more than $ 70 million in investment fraud in 2021, according to the antifraude center of Canada.

Les incidents de fraude liée à la cryptomonnaie ont augmenté de 400 % de 2017 à 2020. Photo : Getty Images/Edward Smith

For two years, the pandemic has also created an environment conducive to everything related to autonomous investment, including cryptocurrencies, explains Sylvain Théberge.

People are at home, people are confined. Il s’est développé un réflexe de : ''Pourquoi ne pas essayer?'' parce qu’un ami leur en a parlé ou parce qu’ils ont vu une publicité, soutient le directeur des relations médias de l’AMF.

In December, CBC reported that Quebecer Harpreet Sahuta had lost more than $ 102,000 by registering for an exchange of cryptocurrency promoted on Facebook.After his initial investment of $ 300 had quickly inflated, alleged representatives of the company behind the scam convinced him on the phone to deposit tens of thousands of more dollars in his account.Ms. Sahuta has still not reviewed her money.

With the information of Jeff Yates