A new crypto scam has been discovered in the TRON blockchain, involving the distribution of fake tokens impersonating the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. This scam targets cryptocurrency wallet owners and poses a threat of asset loss.
This is reported by Business • Media
Scam Mechanism and Threats to Investors
Fraudsters are sending users tokens that disguise themselves as official messages from the FBI, containing calls to undergo “verification” in accordance with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. The text displayed in blockchain explorers states that the wallet is allegedly under investigation, and failure to provide personal information promises “complete asset freezing.”
In this way, scammers attempt to coerce users into revealing confidential information, which may lead to the loss of crypto assets. The FBI warns against responding to such messages and not to share personal data with third-party resources.
“The FBI in New York urges blockchain users on Tron to exercise caution if they encounter a token purportedly from the FBI.”
According to Tronscan, the fake token was created approximately eight days ago and has already reached 728 wallets. Some of these wallets contain significant amounts, including over $1 million in the stablecoin USDT, increasing risks for investors.
Token Manipulations: Fraud and Investigation Tools
In 2024, the analytical platform Lookonchain noted another instance of token usage for uncovering fraudulent activities. The FBI launched the token NexFundAI, using it as a “bait” to detect market manipulations.
“The FBI launched a token called NexFundAI as a ‘bait’ to uncover market manipulations.”
On-chain investigations revealed that a wallet, which previously received over $11 million from manipulations with the SAITAMA token, had interactions with this asset. This indicates that tokens can be used not only for fraud but also as a tool for detecting illegal activities.
The situation with the scam token on TRON occurs against the backdrop of significant risks associated with the use of this network in dubious and illegal operations:
- According to TRM Labs, sanctioned entities from Iran have conducted transfers exceeding $1 billion through cryptocurrency exchanges, primarily using USDT on the TRON network.
- According to a Bitrace report, in 2024, the volume of illegal transactions in stablecoins on the TRON and Ethereum blockchains exceeded $649 billion.
- As of May 2025, the number of transactions on the TRON network reached over 10 billion, with daily transaction volumes exceeding 8 million.
The spread of fake tokens and the increasing activity of scammers highlight the need for heightened caution when dealing with crypto assets and using decentralized networks.