Kraken CSO warns against fraudulent emails pretending to be exchanged

Important highlights

• Kraken CSO warns about fake emails targeting users.
• The fraud uses urgent language and fake deadlines.
• The victim was asked to install the app for “support.”

Nick Percoco, Kraken’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), warned the Crypto community about clever phishing scams run in the name of exchange. In this scam, scammers pretend to reach out from the exchange, tricking people into abandoning their personal information. The warning quickly spread online, and the incident shows how fraud has become more clever and more common in the crypto space. Users are encouraged to maintain and protect their digital assets.

Nick Percoco highlights the new phishing scam that is being implemented under the name Kraken

Scam details

Nick Percoco, Kraken’s chief security officer, warns that scammers are sending fake emails pretending to be from Kraken. The logos used in phishing emails look exactly the same, the fonts used in phishing emails are the same, and the links used are very similar.

By copying all this, the main purpose of the con man is to trick innocent users into clicking on the link, accepting fake “updated terms” and continue using their Kraken account. Emails put pressure on users by saying that they only have “two days left.” This is a common trick that scammers use by running through people and making mistakes.

Malicious tactics revealed

Percoco also says that one of the most dangerous parts of this scam is asking people to install remote desktop software like AnyDesk. The scammer said this was meant to insist on supporting the platform when necessary. If an email from Exchange Support requests that you download such an app, it is a red flag. This is all very dangerous as innocent users can download it, as scammers can easily control their computers and steal the cryptography very easily. Scammers can also access personal information and account details.

It is important to know that Kraken’s official support team will never ask anyone to install any desk or remote access tools. If you receive such a request, it’s a clear indication that it’s a scam.

Official advice from Kraken

As Nick Percoco said, users need to follow these steps to protect themselves:

• Always check the sender’s email address to make sure the email is from the platform’s legitimate website or support.
• Do not click on suspicious links or download software upon request from suspicious support staff.
• Be careful of emails that scare you or say your account will be blocked if you don’t act quickly.
• If you are unsure, always contact the Exchange Support Center via the official website.

Other Phishing Scams

Kraken is not the first crypto exchange to deal with such a phishing scam. Big names like Binance, Coinbase, and Bitfinex also face very similar attackers. In these cases, the scammers pretended to be from the exchange support team, tricking users into providing personal information and installing harmful software.

For example, Binance in early 2018 was also hit by a phishing scam. The scammers have built a fake website that looks like binance.com to steal user logs in detail. This led to strange trading activities, and Binance had to stop withdrawing for a while.

Meanwhile, between 2021 and 2023, scammers created fake sites like “coinbasepro.com” and tricked users into providing login information and two-stage verification code. The con man stole around $20 million before being caught in late 2023. Additionally, in 2024, users reported that they had received fake calls and texts pretending to be from Coinbase. These messages warned about account issues and asked users to press a number or click on the link. This caused the stolen personal information.

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