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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Business
- Yahoo
State of Crypto: Someone Tried to Scam Me (Probably)
Coinbase won't call customers to warn them that their accounts may have been compromised. It's a common scam vector. Still, someone tried it on me. You're reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions. Last weekend, an unknown California number called me. A helpful gentleman informed me that my Coinbase account had been compromised during its recent data breach and he was there to assist me in not losing my assets. Oh no, the horror! All right, so obviously this is a scam. Right after hanging up with this supposed help desk agent, I texted a Coinbase spokesperson to verify that at no point would the exchange call a customer to tell them their account was compromised. It's scam 101 — if you're getting a phone call informing you that your account's been compromised, whether at a crypto exchange, a bank, the IRS, whatever, it's a scam. Do not share your personal details and do not provide any passwords if you get a call like this. There were a few flaws in the attempt to get me to, presumably, move my funds from my supposedly compromised Coinbase account to another address. But I'm hopeful that this can be a useful teaching moment for the nearly 70,000 people who have been affected by Coinbase's recent breach disclosure, as well as anyone else who receives a phone call claiming their information has been compromised. Here's how this went down. Let's start from the beginning. On Saturday, May 24, I received a call from a number I didn't recognize to my personal phone, not my public-facing work number. It being a weekend, one where I was actually visiting family in another state, I didn't pick up. Then the same number called back and I still didn't pick up (yes I know, riveting, but it's 2025 and you can leave a voicemail or text). Ten minutes later, I received a third call from a different number, which I did pick up because at that point I was curious. A fast-talking gentleman who called himself Riccardo told me he was part of Coinbase's Actions and Protections Department and that he was reaching out because my Coinbase account information had been compromised and a new email had just been added to my account. I was pretty confused, for reasons I'll get into below. But I was also intrigued because there were immediately four red flags. For simplicity's sake, I'll refer to the caller as "the agent" from here on out, but to be absolutely clear, I doubt he is an actual customer service agent, representative or other employee of Coinbase, and he certainly was not reaching out to me as an authorized representative of the exchange. First off, the phone call itself is a big red flag. Coinbase will never call a customer about a breach, but rather will contact customers via email, it previously said in a tweet. This is actually standard. The Federal Trade Commission website notes there is a vast range of scams wherein someone will call you, and numerous other companies have warnings that their employees will never proactively call a customer about account issues. The agent I spoke to said they would freeze my account for 24 hours to ensure no funds could be stolen (thanks, I guess?) and that a supervisor would reach out to me (I continue to wait for this supervisor to call). This supposed freeze on my account can be extended to three months if there are multiple failed login attempts. To wrap up the call, he said he'd send me an email summarizing all the details we'd discussed. On Saturday night, I received an email with the subject line "your case is under review." The follow-up email this very helpful customer service representative sent was extremely informative. For one thing, the email address they had associated with my account is a public-facing address, but is not the email address attached to my actual Coinbase account (in fairness, I forgot that part until I tried to find my login information a few days later). Gmail initially (correctly) flagged this email as spam. I moved it to my inbox, where Gmail then showed me that the sender (help@ was not the actual sender — the email arrived via Even the part is sketchy — for one thing, Coinbase's website is though it does send emails from info@ — still, you wouldn't expect a hyphen in a support email domain. For another, the info-coinbase domain was first created in November 2024 (according to an ICANN lookup) and isn't a real website. The email headers were also not super helpful in terms of providing any sort of identifying information, but they did confirm that the sender appeared to have tried to obfuscate their information. Curiously, the "Visit Coinbase" link at the bottom appeared to link to the actual Coinbase website and there do not appear to be any hidden embedded images or other attached files in the email at all. I'm not totally sure what's going on there. A real scammer could have embedded a virus of some sort into the email or even a tracking pixel. Another common tool scammers might use is putting in a phishing link in place of a legitimate one in an email, tricking the user into going to a website intended to steal their login information (this is not legal, technical or any other sort of advice; if you decide to try and scam somebody using information you gleaned from this newsletter, stop it). While scammers might sometimes know how much their intended victims have in a wallet or account, the person who called me did not appear to have that information (as I have zero crypto in my Coinbase account). I called the number back on Friday to see what might happen. No one picked up. I guess my account must be secure now. : Stand With Crypto announced Soulja Boy and 070 Shake would headline a "get out the vote rally" next week ahead of New Jersey's governor primary election. SWC removed Soulja Boy a day later after discovering he was found liable for sexual battery and assault charges and ordered to pay $4 million last month, in a case stemming from 2021. : SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce told the Bitcoin 2025 Las Vegas audience that it's fine to invest in speculative assets, especially if there's no federal regulator with close oversight, but those investors can't ask for a bailout when prices sink. : House Republicans have formally introduced the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, its market structure bill, just weeks after circulating a discussion draft. : The SEC's latest staff statement looks at staking and how the securities regulator might evaluate that part of the crypto ecosystem. : The SEC and Binance filed a joint stipulation to drop the regulator's case against Binance. : News broke over the weekend that a crypto investor had been kidnapped and tortured for his Bitcoin keys. Two suspects accused of perpetrating the kidnapping have been arrested and pled not guilty. : Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, wrote a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump calling on him to publish the names of his guests at last week's memecoin dinner. Friday 15:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. ET) A federal judge held a telephone hearing to assess Roman Storm's defense argument that the Department of Justice may have withheld information. The judge ruled that in her view, the DOJ did not have to review its materials and had not withheld information that rose to the level of affecting proceedings. () The White House published a "Make America Healthy Again" report that cited nonexistent studies and references — with telltale signs that AI may have been used to generate at least some parts of the report. () The Fed said 8% of adults who responded to a survey said they held cryptocurrency in the U.S., down from 12% four years ago. If you've got thoughts or questions on what I should discuss next week or any other feedback you'd like to share, feel free to email me at nik@ or find me on Bluesky @ You can also join the group conversation on Telegram. See ya'll next week!
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major UK retailer CANCELS pre-orders for new Nintendo Switch 2 console as angry gamers slam ‘shameful' service
A MAJOR UK retailer has been slammed by gamers after cancelling pre-orders for new Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. Several hopeful gamers have reported receiving out of the blue emails from the retailer cancelling their pre-orders. 3 Game has since confirmed that they have cancelled an unspecified number of Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders. No reason for the cancelled orders has been given by the retailer leaving hopeful customers in the dark. Game took to social media to offer an apology to disappointed customers following a wave of online anger. Successor to one of the best selling consoles in history the Switch 2 has been hotly anticipated for years. The new model will be released to the public on June 5 with eager gamers pre-ordering the console. Several gamers who placed their pre-order through Game however will be sorely disappointed on release day. Game said in a statement on social media: "We sincerely apologise for the recent cancellation of some Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders. "We understand how disappointing this is, especially for those who have been eagerly awaiting their order. "We're currently working hard to reinstate as many cancelled orders as possible. "If your order was impacted please know that we are doing everything we can and will be in touch with further updates and next steps." The retailer sent out a slew of emails in recent days to notify hopeful customers of their cancelled orders. A wave of fury against the retailer was launched online as upset gamers flocked to social media to complain. Game went on to say: "Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to resolve this. We truly appreciate your support." Several retailers have had problems with Switch 2 pre-orders, in the US Walmart, Target and GameStop have all cancelled some pre-orders. Further disappointment was reported when it was revealed that most retailers are no longer able to take on fresh pre-orders so close to launch day. Smyths Toys in has stepped up amid the controversy and said that it will have a "limited" number of consoles ready for sale in store on release day. Customers who have had their pre-orders cancelled were left outraged. One took to social media to say: "This is why I didn't pre-order from GAME. "They have disappointed me countless times over the last 2 years. Smyth's all the way." Game has been contacted for comment. 3
The Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Major bank giving away £180 free cash – here is how you can get your hands on it
A MAJOR bank is giving away £180 free cash - here is how you can get your hands on it. Santander has launched a new switching incentive to lure customers. 1 The bank is offering the cash to new customers who open an eligible current account with the high street lender. That includes the bank's fee free Everyday Current Account. As part of the deal, customers will receive £180 within 90 days of making the switch. But there are some requirements to get the cash. For starters, customers need to pay £1,500 into the account within 60 days. This does not have to be deposited all at once. Customers must also set up two active household Direct Debits on the new account. This can include your council tax, mobile phone, home phone, broadband, paid-for TV packages, water, gas and electricity bills. Current Account Switch Service (CASS). CASS helps people switch their current accounts by handling the move for free, including moving balances and payments to the new account and closing the old one. It is a free service and helps move customers' balance, direct debits and salary over in seven days. Switch bank accounts for free perks Existing Santander customers may also be eligible for the free cash. Customers might still qualify for the incentive if they opened an account after January 1 2025. The bank can switch a current account existing customers hold at another bank to their Santander current account. Although the offer is enticing, it always pays to read through the full terms and conditions and ensure the available accounts match your banking needs. OTHER SWITCHING OFFERS TSB is giving new customers who switch to the high street bank a £100 switching incentive. You get the £100 upfront but if you spend on you debit card for 20 times in the first six months you get a £15 a month cash back. Co-op bank is also paying £175 to new customers. Meanwhile, Nationwide is giving existing customers a £100 cash boost. This is part of Nationwide's Fairer Share programme, which set out to reward customers who bank with the lender or meet certain lending criteria. The payment goes to members who bank with Nationwide regularly. Those who have a savings account or mortgage product could also qualify. It will be paid directly into customers Nationwide current account between June 18 and July 4. How do I switch bank accounts? SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up - there's a full list on CASS' website. Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days. You don't have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you. All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you're moving. There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account. You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements. When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society. Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts. And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts - but these accounts might come with a monthly fee.
The Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Popular coffee shop suddenly closes permanently after four years as heartbroken fans say ‘you'll be missed'
A POPULAR coffee shop has unexpectedly shut its doors for the last time leaving fans heartbroken. An artisan coffee bar in South Queensferry, Scotland has announced its closure after only four years. Brew Culture in the town's high street decided not to renew their lease and will be closing down for good. The coffee shop shared a post on Instagram thanking their loyal customers. The post read: "Our shop lease expires in a few months and we've decided not to renew the lease. "We've had a great time brewing our lovely coffee for you and will miss you all. Thank you for your support." Fans flocked to the shop's social media to express their sadness over the news. One person wrote: "A really sad day. Thank you for all the lovely coffee and chats over the years. Another one added: "Sorry to hear this. You'll be missed on our wee high street. All the Best for the future and thanks for all the decent chat and awesome coffee!" Someone else wrote: "So sad to hear this we went down this morning and found shop closed. Thinking of u all. U treated us really good. "Loved the coffee and husband liked the Biscoff pastry. Good luck to u all for the future. Will miss u." Poundland to be sold for JUST £1 as frontrunner for shock takeover is revealed after wave of store closures Most customers have been left gutted at the closure news with many saying they will miss the lovely conversations with the owners. Brew Culture celebrated its fourth anniversary in March and had raving reviews on Google with 4.7 star rating. It comes after a legendary greasy spoon in London announced its closure after five years. The North London eatery Norman's Cafe has long been a hub for influencers and fashion-forward people looking for a greasy spoon with a difference. Opened by Sunday Brunch chef Elliot Kaye and Richie Hayes, the posh restaurant first opened its doors in 2020. Norman's Cafe began as a sandwich shop before widening its menu to include a range of British classics. Despite its immense popularity, however, the shop's owners announced that it will close its doors in June 2025. The shop's closure comes as luxury eateries have been forced to close across the UK. Soaring rent prices have led many to shut their doors, with some blaming the Government's decision to raise national insurance contributions for employers. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that her decision was necessary to stabilise the economy - which unexpectedly grew in April. Others, like La Goccia in Covent Garden, blamed 'Covid' and 'Brexit' for making it difficult to hire trained staff.
Phone Arena
7 hours ago
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile settlement checks now going out and they appear to exceed expectations
After months of waiting, T-Mobile is finally sending out payments to its users affected by the 2021 data breach. In February, it was reported that the settlement checks would start going out soon, with an update on the settlement website pegging April as the target month. The website later said that the payment was delayed until May. In 2021, a cyberattack exposed the personal information of 76 million T-Mobile customers in the US. T-Mobile agreed to pay $350 million to settle a claim against it by customers for not adequately protecting sensitive information. It looks like notice of payments are now being sent to T-Mobile users affected by the breach. Some users have received a Virtual Prepaid Mastercard while others have had direct deposits into their Zelle accounts. The mode of payment depends on the payment option you chose. —rruhrruh, Reddit user, May 2025 —Iluvorlando407, Reddit user, May 2025 —lerriuqS_terceS, Reddit user, May 2025 Some customers aren't sure if the emails about the payments are legitimate, but according to the settlement website, the distribution of payments has indeed started. The website notes that the payments will be sent out over the following several weeks. — T-Mobile settlement website Customers who spent money to mitigate the impact of the breach were promised up to $25,000, while others were told to expect $25, or $100 if they lived in California on August 1, not clear how much each user has received, but two user say they got $56.54, which is more than $25 promised. This might be because there were fewer claims than expected. Of course, $56.54 isn't a huge amount, but it's important to remember that the $350 settlement fund will also be used for other expenses such as paying attorney's fees and providing identity defense services. Besides, the settlement payments aren't necessarily so much about compensating customers for what they went through as they are about serving as a statement about holding huge corporations accountable for their inactions and oversights. Switch to Total 5G+ Unlimited 3-Month plan or Total 5G Unlimited and get a free iPhone. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Buy at Total Wireless
