#FOMCMeeting How Hackers Use Fake Phones to Steal Cryptocurrency Assets

Imagine you just bought a new smartphone. You power it on, set up the initial configuration steps, try the camera, download your favorite apps. You even install a cryptocurrency wallet from the official app store and quickly load it with funds for storage. Everything goes smoothly — until one day, when you open the wallet app, you discover your balance has disappeared.

What happened? You followed all the safety guidelines: downloaded the app from a legitimate source, enabled two-factor authentication (2FA), and absolutely did not share sensitive information. But there is one thing you were unaware of: from the moment the phone was powered on, it was under the control of hackers.

In recent years, cybercriminals have developed a new sophisticated attack method: distributing fake phones pre-installed with malware to seize digital assets. This article will analyze the mechanism of operation, the warning signs, and preventive measures against this increasingly common type of scam.