謹防欺騙性誘惑：印度藝術家淪為高手 NFT 騙局的受害者

一名 71 歲的印度藝術家被自稱 NFT 藝術品經銷商的人詐騙。受害者 Shivaprasad R 在向承諾購買其藝術品的詐騙者支付費用後損失了 15.8 萬印度盧比（約 1,895 美元）。詐騙者創建了一個網站 nfttradeplace.com，並聲稱想要以 42 ETH 的價格購買 Shivaprasad 的畫作。談判實際上是透過電子郵件和 Facebook 進行的。這位藝術家支付了 0.115 ETH 的汽油費，並要求提取 6 ETH，但被要求支付額外費用。當平台不斷要求進一步付款以提取資金時，Shivaprasad 意識到了騙局。

Beware the Deceptive Allure of NFT Scams: Indian Digital Artist Falls Prey to Masterful Con

謹防 NFT 騙局的欺騙性誘惑：印度數位藝術家淪為高手騙局的受害者

In a sobering tale of deceit, a septuagenarian digital artist in India has become the unfortunate victim of a cunning NFT scam, losing a substantial sum of INR 1.58 lakhs (approximately $1895) to perpetrators masquerading as legitimate NFT art dealers. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat posed by online fraudsters who prey on unsuspecting individuals in the burgeoning realm of digital art.

在一個發人深省的欺騙故事中，印度一位七十多歲的數位藝術家成為狡猾的NFT 騙局的不幸受害者，冒充合法NFT 藝術品經銷商的犯罪者損失了15.8 萬印度盧比（約1895 美元） 。這一事件清楚地提醒人們，網路詐欺者所構成的威脅始終存在，這些詐欺者在新興的數位藝術領域中對毫無戒心的個人進行掠奪。

Shivaprasad R (name changed), a highly accomplished chartered accountant and practicing artist, has had his work showcased in numerous local exhibitions and widely shared on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. It was in October 2023 that the deceptive saga unfolded, with the scammers, posing as an "NFT art dealer," reaching out to Shivaprasad through a dubious platform called nfttradeplace.com.

Shivaprasad R（化名）是一位卓有成就的特許會計師和執業藝術家，他的作品在許多當地展覽中展出，並在 Instagram 和 Facebook 等社交媒體平台上廣泛分享。 2023 年 10 月，這一欺騙性的傳奇故事展開，詐騙者冒充“NFT 藝術品經銷商”，透過一個名為 nfttradeplace.com 的可疑平台聯繫 Shivaprasad。

With alluring promises of purchasing Shivaprasad's paintings for a substantial sum of 42 ETH (approximately INR 1.09 crore), the scammers initiated negotiations that were conducted entirely through virtual channels, primarily via email and Facebook. Enticed by the prospect of such a lucrative deal, Shivaprasad agreed to the offer and proceeded to list three of his artworks for 10 ETH each and another for 12 ETH.

騙子承諾以 42 以太幣（約 10.9 億印度盧比）購買 Shivaprasad 的畫作，並發起了完全透過虛擬管道（主要透過電子郵件和 Facebook）進行的談判。受到如此有利可圖的交易前景的吸引，Shivaprasad 同意了這一提議，並開始以每件 10 ETH 的價格列出他的三件藝術品，另一件以 12 ETH 的價格列出。

On February 1, 2024, the scammers requested a seemingly innocuous payment of 0.115 ETH to their platform, claiming it was a "gas fee." Unwary of the impending deception, Shivaprasad made the payment from his crypto wallet, which he had set up at the scammers' behest.

2024 年 2 月 1 日，詐騙者要求向他們的平台支付看似無害的 0.115 ETH，聲稱這是「汽油費」。 Shivaprasad 沒有意識到即將發生的欺騙，他從他的加密錢包中進行了付款，該錢包是他根據詐騙者的要求設置的。

Following the completion of his first sale, Shivaprasad requested a withdrawal of 6 ETH from his earnings. However, despite waiting patiently for days, no transaction materialized. Upon inquiring further, he was met with a demand for a "delay fee" for allegedly holding up the withdrawal of his cryptocurrency.

在完成第一筆銷售後，Shivaprasad 要求從他的收入中提取 6 ETH。然而，儘管耐心等待多日，仍沒有成交。經過進一步詢問，他被要求支付“延遲費”，因為據稱他拖延了他的加密貨幣的提取。

"This delay fee was never discussed nor was it exhibited on the website," Shivaprasad stated in a disheartened tone.

「這筆延誤費從未被討論過，也沒有在網站上展示，」希瓦普拉薩德沮喪地說。

Determined to resolve the issue, Shivaprasad, lacking sufficient ETH, requested the scammers to accept the delay fees in fiat currency. To his surprise, the scammers agreed to this request, and Shivaprasad subsequently made four payments to the accounts of Mohammed Ekramul Haque and Mohammad Farooq. The involvement of these individuals as the masterminds behind the scam remains unverified.

Shivaprasad 決心解決這個問題，但由於缺乏足夠的 ETH，他要求詐騙者接受法定貨幣的延遲費用。令他驚訝的是，騙子同意了這項請求，Shivaprasad 隨後向 Mohammed Ekramul Haque 和 Mohammad Farooq 的帳戶支付了四筆款項。這些人作為騙局背後的策劃者的參與尚未得到證實。

The final payment to the scammers was sent by Shivaprasad on March 15. However, much to his dismay, the platform continued to demand further payments, hindering his ability to withdraw his 6 ETH. It was at this point that the realization dawned upon Shivaprasad that he had fallen victim to a meticulously crafted NFT scam.

Shivaprasad 於 3 月 15 日向詐騙者發送了最後一筆付款。正是在這一點上，Shivaprasad 意識到他已經成為精心設計的 NFT 騙局的受害者。

On April 17, Shivaprasad sought recourse by contacting the cyber police and filing charges under Sections 66C (punishment for identity theft) and 66D (punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resources) of the Information Technology (IT) Act and Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

4 月17 日，Shivaprasad 聯繫網路警察尋求追索，並根據《資訊科技(IT) 法》第66C 條（身分盜竊的處罰）和66D（利用電腦資源冒充作弊的處罰）和第420 條（作弊）提出指控。

"Tracing cryptocurrency trails is an extremely challenging task. As of now, we have requested bank details and domain details of the email address used by the scammers," remarked an officer privy to the investigation.

「追蹤加密貨幣踪跡是一項極具挑戰性的任務。截至目前，我們已要求提供詐騙者使用的銀行詳細信息和電子郵件地址的域名詳細信息，」一位了解調查情況的官員表示。

The rise of cryptocurrency scams has become a prevalent concern in India, despite concerted efforts by local authorities to combat such fraudulent activities. Just last week, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into a massive $800 million Ponzi scheme involving a high-profile Bollywood celebrity.

儘管地方當局齊心協力打擊此類詐欺活動，但加密貨幣詐騙的興起已成為印度普遍關注的問題。就在上週，執法局 (ED) 啟動了對涉及寶萊塢知名名人的 8 億美元巨額龐氏騙局的調查。

Another recent incident highlighted a job recruitment scam, where fraudsters drained victims' crypto wallets by employing spyware disguised as applications purportedly essential for the onboarding process.

最近的另一起事件凸顯了一場招募騙局，詐騙者透過使用偽裝成據稱對入職過程至關重要的應用程式的間諜軟體，耗盡了受害者的加密錢包。

Shivaprasad's experience serves as a cautionary tale for all digital artists and art enthusiasts engaging in the NFT ecosystem. The anonymity and decentralized nature of cryptocurrency transactions can provide a fertile ground for scammers to operate with impunity.

Shivaprasad 的經驗對於所有參與 NFT 生態系統的數位藝術家和藝術愛好者來說都是一個警示。加密貨幣交易的匿名性和去中心化性質可以為詐騙者逍遙法外的運作提供肥沃的土壤。

It is imperative for individuals to exercise utmost vigilance when dealing with unsolicited offers and platforms promising astronomical returns. Thorough research and verification of the authenticity of potential buyers are crucial to safeguard one's digital assets from falling prey to deceptive schemes.

個人在處理主動提供的報價和承諾天文數字回報的平台時必須保持高度警惕。對潛在買家的真實性進行徹底的研究和驗證對於保護數位資產免遭欺騙性計劃至關重要。

As technology continues to advance and reshape various industries, it is more important than ever to remain informed and alert to the ever-evolving tactics employed by cybercriminals. By staying vigilant and exercising caution, individuals can mitigate the risks associated with online scams and protect their hard-earned assets from falling into the hands of malicious actors.

隨著技術不斷進步和重塑各個行業，對網路犯罪分子不斷演變的策略保持了解和警惕比以往任何時候都更加重要。透過保持警惕和謹慎，個人可以降低與網路詐騙相關的風險，並保護其辛苦賺來的資產不會落入惡意行為者手中。