Ethereum Phishing Attack Drains $585K From Four Users, Single Victim Loses $221K WBTC

ETH-0.72%
WBTC-0.89%

Gate News message, April 20 — A coordinated Ethereum phishing attack drained $585,000 from four victims in 11 hours, according to Scam Sniffer. One user alone lost $221,000 in Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) after signing a malicious transaction.

Attackers used a phishing link that appeared legitimate to trick users into approving transactions. Once victims signed the malicious transaction, the attacker gained access to their funds and executed transfers within seconds. Unlike direct wallet hacks, this method exploited user permissions rather than breaking into wallets. Scam Sniffer reported that the same drainer targeted multiple victims sequentially, suggesting the attacker used automation tools to increase efficiency and success rates.

The attack demonstrates how quickly funds can be lost through social engineering, even when users believe they are interacting with legitimate platforms.

Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to Disclaimer.

Related Articles

Major CEX Launches Event Contracts For Short-Term BTC And ETH Price Trading

A global exchange has launched Event Contracts, allowing users to bet on Bitcoin and Ethereum price movements over set timeframes. This simplified trading option features low costs and automatic settlement, aimed at easing short-term investment strategies.

GateNews27m ago

Kelp DAO Hack Attributed to Lazarus Group; eth.limo Domain Hijacked via Social Engineering

LayerZero reported that the Kelp DAO exploit, attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group, led to a loss of $292 million in rsETH tokens due to vulnerabilities in its decentralized verifier network. Additionally, eth.limo faced a domain hijacking from a social engineering attack, but DNSSEC mitigated severe damage.

GateNews38m ago

Major CEX Launches Crypto-Backed Lending in UK, Supporting BTC, ETH, and cbETH for USDC Borrowing

A centralized exchange launched crypto-backed lending services in the UK, allowing instant USDC loans using BTC, ETH, and cbETH as collateral, powered by Morpho. Total loans issued surpassed $2.17 billion since the service's US debut in January 2025.

GateNews3h ago

Singapore's OCBC Bank to Launch Physical Gold Fund Token on Ethereum and Solana

OCBC and Lion Global Investors are launching a physical gold fund token, GOLDX Token, on Ethereum and Solana blockchains, with OCBC handling design and Lion Global managing investment and governance.

GateNews3h ago

ETH jumps 1.22% in 15 minutes: DeFi segment activity and trading volume surge resonate to drive the move

2026-04-20 07:15 to 07:30 (UTC), ETH’s short-term return reached +1.22%. The price range spanned from 2285.19 to 2332.62 USDT, with a 2.07% amplitude. During this period, market attention heated up, volatility noticeably intensified. On-chain transaction volume rose in tandem, and key mainstream on-chain activity indicators expanded significantly on a month-over-month basis. The primary driver of this deviation was an increase in transaction activity related to DeFi protocols, which boosted the share of on-chain Gas consumption. At the same time, total on-chain transaction volume saw a sharp surge in a short time. DeFi scenarios such as decentralized exchanges and lending protocols led to a direct surge in demand for ETH, driving funds to flow quickly into the market. In addition, the average Gas fees and Gas prices on the ETH network continued to climb in this window, further validating that high-frequency trading and active capital were accelerating into the market and strengthening short-term bullish sentiment. Second, on-chain data also showed an expansion in liquidity related to stablecoins and ERC20 assets, strengthening market buy-side power. Although historical large-wallets such as Wilcke still held a large amount of ETH after early March, this cycle did not trigger abnormal transfers or large-scale sell-offs. Meanwhile, the positioning structure of mainstream ETH did not show passive deleveraging or concentrated liquidation. Under the combined effects of multiple factors, global buy-side demand was amplified, and short-term ETH volatility was further elevated. Be alert to the risk of capital sustainability after a surge in high-frequency trading volume and Gas fees. If subsequent incremental buying is lacking or on-chain attention cools down, ETH may face short-term pullback pressure. Monitor changes in large-holder positions, any abnormal shifts in network fees, and liquidity volatility on the DeFi protocol chain. While there have been no signs of security incidents involving major contracts and protocols so far, short-term liquidity disturbances still need close observation. Keep monitoring fund flows and on-chain structure to stay informed about subsequent market changes.

GateNews3h ago
Comment
0/400
No comments