Football Star Harry Kane Targeted in Crypto Scam
Fraudsters are exploiting the buzz around Euro 2024 by launching counterfeit cryptocurrency promotions. A notable incident highlighted by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky involves England's football captain Harry Kane. Scammers advertised "Captain Harry Kane" coins, using cartoon images of Kane and mimicking Euro 2024 branding to lure fans.
The fraudulent crypto promotions were disseminated through social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and via targeted email campaigns. The scam enticed investors to purchase the fake currency, causing its price to spike, at which point the scammers sold their holdings, devaluing the currency and leaving investors with significant losses.
Kaspersky's security expert, Olga Svistunova, noted that this scam is no longer active but warned that fraudsters often use popular figures during major events to target their fans. Additionally, Kaspersky observed other fraudulent activities linked to the tournament, including fake ticket sales, bogus online merchandise stores, and misleading football streaming offers.
The phenomenon underscores the need for vigilance, particularly during high-profile events, as scammers continually adapt their tactics to exploit emerging opportunities.