A NEW Pokemon game circulating the web is luring in fans with the promise of winning non-fungible tokens (NFTs) – but beware.
Gamers have been warned not to play as it could contain malicious software.
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NFTs can be anything digital but are typically drawings that use crypto or blockchain to be unique and unable to be copied.
Similarly to Pokemon – NFTs are incredibly popular, which makes the phishing scheme all the more sinister.
The game, called pokemon-go[.]io, needs to be downloaded to ‘play’.
But once prospective players hit the ‘Play on PC’ button, a software disguised as the game is downloaded.
Hackers can gain control of the victim’s device through this software, according to reports.
The fraudsters can then steal data or install malware onto the unaware gamer’s computer.
The phishing campaign is said to have been up and running since December.
Multiple versions of the site have now been blocked by Google.
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But it is common that sites of this nature reappear under similar names.
NFTs and cryptocurrencies have exploded in popularity in the past couple of years.
With their increasing notoriety, people have been investing huge amounts of money into them.
The popularity of NFTs and crypto, however, has made them a target for hackers.
How to protect yourself against cryptocurrency scams
You can protect yourself from scams by being aware of red flags to look out for.
Action Fraud has shared some tips to avoid falling for a fraudulent scheme.
Don’t assume the investment scheme is real, even if it has a professional-looking website, adverts or social media posts.
You should take your time before making decisions, and don’t feel pressured into making a decision.
“A genuine bank or financial organisation won’t force you to part with your money on the spot,” Action Fraud said.
“Always be wary if you’re pressured to invest quickly or promised returns that sound too good to be true.”
If you’re thinking about making an investment, get independent advice and thoroughly research the company first.
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