French data leaks fuel fake crypto support scams

• French crypto users are facing more fake support calls after major data leaks exposed personal information.
• Scammers are impersonating crypto exchange staff and urging users to move funds to supposedly safe wallets.
• France’s cyber-security authorities have warned that leaked data can help criminals identify crypto holders and their platforms.

French crypto users have faced a rise in fake support calls following recent data leaks.

Scammers have impersonated staff from platforms including Binance and Meria to target users with urgent warnings about their funds.

“We’re going through a phase where data leaks are piling up in private companies as well as in the public sector,” said Meria founder and CEO Owen “Hasheur” Simonin.

The scammers have urged victims to transfer cryptocurrency to new wallets to supposedly protect their funds.

French cyber-security authorities have received numerous reports of similar calls from fake crypto firms and anti-fraud services.

An August breach at France’s tax agency exposed data from 678,000 citizens, adding to the personal information available to scammers.

The authorities have warned that leaked data can also support phishing, fraud and attempts to obtain wallet recovery phrases or other sensitive information.