- A crypto user has detailed how a fake Uniswap site took $170,000 from him
- The user said how he accidentally clicked on the Google Ad for Uniswap rather than the genuine site
- Using bookmarks is the only way to make sure you are visiting the correct site
The importance of following the correct links to cryptocurrency platforms has been underlined by a trader recounting his experience of losing $170,000 worth of tokens by using a fraudulent site. The story, posted by prominent crypto Twitter member Jacob Canfield, explained how the user accidentally clicked on a Google ad for Uniswap and was taken to a fraudulent site that used fake token contracts to steal his money. The experience is another reminder to exercise constant vigilance when using crypto platforms.
⚠️BEWARE clicking on any @Uniswap Google Ads. They’re phishing sites set up to steal your crypto.
Seen a few of these stories popping up.
Always try and find the actual link and bookmark it in your browser. pic.twitter.com/3kuPki0cTY
— Jacob Canfield (@JacobCanfield) August 24, 2021
Uniswap Google Ad Proves Fatal
The user, who is not named in the post, describes how he searched for ‘Uniswap’ on Google and “clicked on the Uniswap google ad instead of the actual Uniswap link”, only realizing his error when he had swapped his tokens. The contract address for the token into which he was swapping had been replaced with a fake one, leading to his funds going straight into the scammers’ address.
The victim added an image to his post which showed a red flag that “means your crypto is about to get stolen after you swap”, highlighting an ETH address where the swapped tokens are set to be sent.
Keep Bookmarks for Crypto Sites
The poster adds that he is “pretty fluent in crypto” and yet still managed to fall for it, highlighting that even seasoned users can be victims. In fact in some cases they are more likely to be victims, given that they will be more complacent than new entrants to the space who are on their guard when it comes to using the platforms for the first time.
The only way to be absolutely sure that you are visiting the correct site is to bookmark all the ones you use on a regular basis and only use these bookmarks. Using search engines to find crypto platforms is asking for trouble, especially with scams getting more and more sophisticated.
