Malware Attacks via Telegram Rise 2,000% in Two Months

The number of malware-based scams targeting crypto investors through Telegram has surpassed traditional phishing attacks, according to Scam Sniffer analysts.

1/6 📊 ALERT: Our data shows a concerning trend—Telegram malware scams have surpassed traditional phishing!

From Nov 2024 to Jan 2025:
– Malicious Telegram group scams increased by 2000%+
– Regular phishing remained stable

Here's why this matters… 🧵 https://t.co/6MQkDWCLrr pic.twitter.com/U6YBtbaPHK

— Scam Sniffer | Web3 Anti-Scam (@realScamSniffer) January 16, 2025

From November 2024 to January 2025, the frequency of these assaults increased by 2,000%. Hackers lure victims using fake verification bots or invitations to “exclusive” trading or airdrop channels.

By going through a bogus security check, malicious code is injected into the victim’s clipboard, downloading malware that grants the attackers access to passwords, crypto wallets, and browser data.

Scam Sniffer believes this new tactic emerged because crypto users have become more cautious about the more common fraud schemes.

Context

• As per Chainalysis data, the total amount stolen in crypto scams grew by ~21% in 2024, reaching $2.2 billion. Most of these losses came from DeFi services.