$170,000 Disappeared in a Minute: One-Click Scam

🕵️ Cybercriminals are once again finding new ways to deceive cryptocurrency and NFT users. This time, the victim was NFT artist Princess Hypio, who lost about $170,000 in tokens and digital assets after agreeing to download a “game” via a link sent on Discord.

How it worked

The scheme seems simple and even banal, but that is exactly why it is effective:

1. The attacker infiltrates the community — usually themed Discord servers where crypto traders, artists, or NFT collectors gather.
2. Builds trust — engages actively, pretends to be an enthusiast or developer, and may even pose as a representative of a familiar brand.
3. Offers to “play” — sends a link to an alleged new game or software. In Princess Hypio’s case, it was a link to an external website.
4. Malware — instead of a game, a program is installed that gains access to the computer and then the victim’s crypto wallets.
5. Asset theft — tokens and NFTs are drained almost instantly.

As cybersecurity expert Joe Persoco noted: “These attacks don’t exploit code — they exploit trust. Attackers disguise themselves as friends and push people to take actions they would never normally take.”

He adds: “The main vulnerability in the crypto industry is not the code, it’s trust. Scammers use the friendly spirit of communities and curiosity to profit from good intentions. They embed themselves in communities, study the culture, copy friends’ behavior — and strike at the right moment.”

Gabi Urrutia, Director of Information Security at Halborn, emphasized that this scam is a combination of social engineering and malware: “It’s not technically very complex, but extremely insidious because it abuses trust within communities. In the Web3 and gaming space, where peer-to-peer trust is valued and high-value assets are at stake, such attacks are becoming increasingly common.”

Why it works

It’s important to understand: these attacks don’t break the blockchain or hack smart contracts. Everything is based on social engineering — psychological pressure and playing on trust. People launch the program themselves, believing in the good intentions of a “Discord friend.”

Unlike traditional hacking attacks, no genius code is needed here — just convincing the victim to click a link.

Precedents and scale

Princess Hypio is far from the first and, unfortunately, not the last victim. Discord has long been a favorite platform for scammers:

• In 2021, dozens of users lost funds after attackers impersonated admins of well-known NFT projects.
• In 2022, scammers distributed “alpha game access,” stealing assets from hundreds of server members.
• Analysts estimate that every year, only in the crypto space, millions of dollars in assets are stolen via Discord schemes.

Protection tips

Experts remind: protection here depends not on code, but on common sense. Some basic rules:

• Never download software from links sent by strangers, even if the person seems “friendly” in the community.
• Verify the source. Major NFT projects and games always have an official website with verified links.
• Use a separate device or “cold” wallets. Never store large sums on wallets connected to your everyday computer.
• Enable two-factor authentication and monitor your wallet activity.

🚨 Conclusion: The new Princess Hypio case is yet another reminder that cryptocurrency assets are vulnerable not only to technical bugs but also to human trust. In an era where $170,000 can disappear in a few clicks, the key skill for any investor or collector is not only understanding blockchain but also maintaining healthy skepticism.