Elliptic report: NFT theft rampant in crypto community; NFTs worth $100 million stolen, BAYC most targeted
Cybercriminals stole $100 million worth of NFTs, blockchain analytics company Elliptic reported in its latest 110-page “NFTs and Financial Crimes” document. The report analyzed NFT thefts that occurred from July 2021 to July 2022.
Even in the current crashing NFT markets, scammers are still very active. July saw the highest number of stolen and reported NFTs (4,600). However, this might be due to OpenSea’s “reported for suspicious activity” malfunction. As of now, the highest confirmed value of stolen digital collectibles is almost $24 million, with the theft having occurred in May.
Social media platform scams caused 23% (nearly 5,000 NFTs worth around $20 million) of all NFT thefts within the reported period. Most of the heists happened through generic phishing links.
Discord channels severely suffer from scammers, with 11,475 messages reported in January (a record high). Scammers have been quieter on the platform in the last two months. The “reports scammers” channel in NFT projects’ servers saw 75,000 messages across selected NFT platforms since July 2021, with 76% of all reports taking place in 2022.
The report also informed that thieves, on average, get $300,000 per theft. However, the number could be higher due to the persistent underreporting of cybercrimes.
The most valuable NFT ever stolen was CryptoPunk #4324, which was sold in November immediately after the theft for $490,000. In December, the single largest theft resulted in a collector losing 16 blue chip NFTs worth $2.1 million.
Bored Apes are the most wanted NFTs: $43.6 million worth of 167 BAYC NFTs were stolen between July 2021 and July 2022. Other top-tier NFT collections weren’t as close: $14.5 million MAYC, $3.9 million Azuki, $3.7 million Otherdeed, and $2.9 million worth of CloneX were robbed from their holders. These collections constitute the most value lost to thefts.
As the NFT market continues to attract new collectors, cybercriminals will keep exploiting the technology’s vulnerabilities for financial benefits. NFT platforms should prioritize security and address weak points through which thieves gain access to NFT wallets. Nevertheless, Elliptic concluded that “the true instances of these crimes account for a small proportion of the NFT-related trade.”
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About The Author
Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
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Agne is a journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the metaverse, AI, and Web3 industries for the Metaverse Post. Her passion for storytelling has led her to conduct numerous interviews with experts in these fields, always seeking to uncover exciting and engaging stories. Agne holds a Bachelor’s degree in literature and has an extensive background in writing about a wide range of topics including travel, art, and culture. She has also volunteered as an editor for the animal rights organization, where she helped raise awareness about animal welfare issues. Contact her on agnec@mpost.io.
