According to Cointelegraph, decentralized liquidity protocol Aave recently announced it had surpassed $60 billion in net deposits, marking a significant milestone as the first decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol to achieve this across 14 networks. This accomplishment was highlighted by Token Terminal data, which showed Aave's net deposits more than tripled over the past year, rising from approximately $18 billion in August 2024.
However, shortly after this announcement, a phishing campaign emerged targeting Aave users through Google Ads, as reported by blockchain investigation firm Peckshield. The scammers have been posting phishing links to fake Aave investment platforms, aiming to deceive unsuspecting crypto investors. When users click on these links, they are prompted to connect their crypto wallets to the fraudulent services, potentially allowing scammers to access and transfer all funds stored in the wallets. Such transactions are typically irreversible, leading to permanent loss of funds.
While the extent of losses from this phishing attack remains unconfirmed, the campaign's reach is significant due to its propagation through Google Ads services. Phishing scams often trick users into revealing sensitive information by impersonating trusted services, making it crucial for investors to verify website URLs before engaging with any service, especially when depositing funds or linking wallets. In the event of a compromise, investors are advised to transfer funds from the compromised wallet to a secure one immediately, contact their service provider through official channels, and revoke any wallet approvals using services like Revoke.cash.
Additionally, compromised wallets should not be reused for storing or depositing funds, as scammers may continue to monitor these wallets for any remaining funds. Users are also encouraged to disconnect their wallets from phishing websites to prevent further unauthorized access. Cointelegraph has reached out to Aave for comments regarding the ongoing phishing attempts, emphasizing the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to safeguard against such scams.
