A 22-year-old Pune man lost Rs 2.5 lakh from his crypto wallet after he downloaded an app which was recommended by a potential employer he met on X. Product designer and crypto trader Naved Alam said he has reported the user and blocked his account but is yet to file a police complaint.
Speaking to Moneycontrol, Alam said that the incident happened at 2 am on Saturday.
"It started with a promising opportunity @crankybugatti on Twitter reached out to me regarding a design role in a company related to a web3 communication app called Social Spectra," Alam said. "The conversation moved to Discord, where things seemed legitimate. Basic design questions were asked, and they even seemed impressed with my work. Then came the request for an HR call, and I was provided with a link to join. Little did I know, it was a trap."
Alam downloaded what he thought was an in-house communication app for the call. Instead, it was a malware that drained his crypto wallet and liquidated his staked assets. "In a matter of moments, I lost $3000 (about Rs 2.5 lakh) to scammers who prey on unsuspecting individuals looking for legitimate opportunities," he said.
When asked if he had confronted @crankybugatti, Alam told Moneycontrol, "I asked him to return the money, he pretended that he's not part of the scam and he'll solve this and his friend is in cybercrime security. Obviously, I didn't believe him."
He added that the experience has taught me to be more vigilant and cautious online. "Always verify the authenticity of job offers and never download anything unless you're absolutely sure of its source."
