Crypto
Better Business Bureau warns about rising investment, cryptocurrency scams
Texas (KXII) – The Better Business Bureau says investment and cryptocurrency scams are on the rise, along with the amount they’re taking.
Monica Horton with the BBB said these scammers often play the long game to gain trust.
“They are developing a friendly relationship with someone over the course of several months,” she said.
Then they use that trust to convince victims into “investing” their money into something like the stock market or cryptocurrency.
“It’s a pretty involved scam where they are setting up these great looking platforms where you can watch your money grow,” Horton said.
Unfortunately for the victims, it’s just a facade.
“You start out small, but you keep on sending money,” Horton said. “So when it comes time to withdraw is when people realize that they have been scammed.”
That increased trust is increasing the amount the scammers are able to take as well.
“The average loss in 2020 was around $1,000, we have seen that increase recently to $6,000,” Horton said. “We have heard from a victim who was out $138,000.”
It’s not just older folks being taken advantage of either.
“Cryptocurrency investment scams are in the top three targeting the 18 to 24 demographic,” Horton said.
Horton said that always beware of strangers online and if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
“They’re making promises of guaranteed returns on your investment, that should be a red flag,” she said. “Just beware of anybody that really tries to befriend you.”
She said that prevention is key because once the money is gone, it’s usually gone for good.
“In this particular situation, there’s not a whole lot that can be done because you’ve typically sent your money outside the United States,” Horton said.
Scams can be reported to to the BBB Scam Tracker.
Copyright 2024 KXII. All rights reserved.
Crypto
Trump Barely Mentions Crypto During Cryptocurrency Interview
Cryptocurrency enthusiasts tuned in to hear former President Donald Trump speak in an X Spaces event about digital currency and his own soon-to-launch crypto venture—but the president gave no details and spent about half the interview talking about the recent assassination attempt that took place in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The interviewer, the president of a cryptocurrency media startup called “Rug Radio,” spent the first portion of the broadcast asking Trump about Sunday’s incident, which Trump recounted in detail.
Over 16 minutes later, Trump finally addressed the topic of the broadcast.
“Crypto is one of those things we have to do,” Trump said. “Whether we like it or not, we have to do it.”
“You’re going to be happy, and you’re going to love your crypto,” he added. “And as long as you have your crypto, you’re happy.”
Trump gave almost no details about his new crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. But more than two hours into the broadcast, some of the company’s co-founders described it as a sort of crypto banking platform, CNBC reported. They said that customers will eventually be able to buy, sell, borrow and lend cryptocurrencies through the platform.
One of the founders, Zak Folkman, also announced the company would launch with its own cryptocurrency token—WLFI.
At least 20% of the initial tokens will be claimed by the company’s founders, 63% will be offered to customers and the remaining 17% will be saved and allocated as customer rewards, according to CNBC.
Trump talked at length about the influence of his sons, Don Jr., Eric, and Barron on the company, and said they had gotten him interested despite some healthy initial apathy toward the industry.
“I think my children opened my eyes more than anything else,” he said.
“Barron’s a young guy, but he knows it. He talks about his wallet, he’s got four wallets or something… But he knows this stuff inside and out,” Trump said. “Eric and Don know it so well, it’s almost like younger people know it a lot better than older people. But I have a lot of respect for them, they’ve shown great judgment—all of them,” he added.
Steve Witkoff, the real estate developer who was golfing with Trump during the incident on Sunday, is reportedly also a key figure in the new venture—along with his son, Zach Witkoff.
A source told the New York Times that the elder Witkoff is taking a hands-on role in the company. He even sat next to Trump during Monday’s interview and answered his own series of questions after Trump signed off.
“I said, ‘Who would understand this better than the Trump family?’” Witkoff said. “We had a meeting initially with Eric, Don Jr., and the president and his counsel. And we said, ‘Let’s go pursue it.’ We’ve been on it for close to nine months.”
Crypto
Trump to launch cryptocurrency platform | News.az
Former US President Donald Trump is expected to announce a new cryptocurrency project on Monday, to be led by his two oldest sons, News.Az reports citing Fox Business.
Trump’s crypto platform will be called World Liberty Financial and will be formally unveiled at 8 p.m. ET by the former president at an event at his Mar-a-Lago residence that will be broadcast on X Spaces.
“We’re embracing the future with crypto and leaving the slow and outdated big banks behind,” Trump said in a video posted to social media platform X on Thursday.
The former president and his sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have been promoting the project on social media in recent weeks in advance of the platform’s launch, though they haven’t gone into detail about how the platform will operate.
Crypto news outlet CoinDesk obtained excerpts of a draft white paper describing the project, which noted that the former president’s 18-year-old son, Barron, is listed as the project’s “DeFi visionary.” DeFi is shorthand for “decentralized finance” and is a reference to financial services performed on a public blockchain.
CoinDesk said, according to a person familiar with the plans for World Liberty Financial, that the new platform would include a new non-transferable cryptocurrency token called WLFI. The outlet’s source noted that as of early September, World Liberty Financial hadn’t finalized its plans.
According to the white paper draft reviewed by the outlet, 70% of WLFI tokens would be reserved for the project’s founders, team and service providers, while the remaining 30% of tokens would be distributed via a public sale with some of the proceeds going to insiders and to support the platform’s operations.
Trump has highlighted crypto as a part of his campaign platform and said he wants to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the planet” – though the new project linked to his family could raise concerns about conflicts of interest.
The former president previously raised concerns about crypto during his first term in office. In a 2021 interview on FOX Business Network’s “Varney & Co.,” Trump said he has “not been a big fan” of cryptocurrencies and warned it’s “potentially a disaster waiting to happen.”
News.Az
Crypto
Ethereum vs Mpeppe: ETH Whale Purchases $500K Mpeppe Cryptocurrency – ETH Price Prediction | Bitcoinist.com
The cryptocurrency market is seeing a significant shift as Ethereum (ETH) whales, once loyal to the platform, are starting to diversify their investments into emerging altcoins like Mpeppe (MPEPE). In a recent move, an ETH whale purchased $500K worth of Mpeppe tokens, signaling growing interest in this new meme-based gambling ICO. As the crypto world continues to evolve, the battle between Ethereum (ETH) and its competitors, such as Mpeppe, is heating up.
Ethereum’s Struggles Amid ETF Disappointment
The once-dominant Ethereum (ETH) is facing a tough period, with its ETF offerings underperforming compared to Bitcoin. A report from 99Bitcoins revealed that Ethereum ETFs have seen outflows of over $100 million since the beginning of September, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of Ethereum (ETH) as an investment vehicle. While ETH saw a minor price increase of 5%, it has significantly underperformed against Bitcoin, which saw a 10% rise during the same period.
One of the major concerns is the lack of institutional interest in Ethereum (ETH). While Bitcoin continues to attract substantial capital from ETF products, Ethereum has struggled to replicate that success. This has led to some ETH whales seeking alternative investments, with Mpeppe (MPEPE) emerging as a top choice due to its high-growth potential.
Why Mpeppe (MPEPE) Is Gaining Traction
Mpeppe (MPEPE) is quickly becoming the go-to investment for those looking to diversify away from Ethereum (ETH). The $500K purchase by an ETH whale is a testament to the growing confidence in Mpeppe’s ability to deliver substantial returns. With its upcoming launch on Uniswap, Mpeppe (MPEPE) is poised to gain even more visibility and liquidity, making it an attractive option for investors who want to capitalize on its projected 150x returns.
What makes Mpeppe (MPEPE) particularly appealing is its combination of meme culture and real-world utility within the gambling sector. The token offers a range of DeFi features, including yield farming and liquidity mining, alongside a fully integrated casino platform. This unique approach has positioned Mpeppe as a standout project in the crowded ICO space, drawing attention from both retail and institutional investors.
Ethereum’s Future: Is It Still a Good Investment?
Despite the challenges Ethereum (ETH) is facing, it remains a significant player in the crypto market. However, the recent $500K investment into Mpeppe (MPEPE) by an ETH whale suggests that even the most loyal Ethereum investors are beginning to explore other opportunities. The underperformance of ETH ETFs compared to Bitcoin ETFs is another indicator that Ethereum’s dominance may be waning.
Analysts have pointed out that Ethereum (ETH) continues to face competition from other Layer-1 and Layer-2 solutions, which offer faster and cheaper transactions. While Ethereum (ETH) has made strides in improving scalability through its Layer-2 solutions, such as Base, the overall demand for Ethereum (ETH) has not kept pace with its competitors. This has led to questions about whether Ethereum can regain its market position, especially as tokens like Mpeppe (MPEPE) rise in popularity.
Conclusion
As the crypto market evolves, Ethereum (ETH) finds itself in a challenging position, with increased competition from faster, cheaper networks and underperforming ETFs. The recent $500K investment by an ETH whale into Mpeppe (MPEPE) highlights the growing interest in emerging altcoins that offer higher returns. While Ethereum is still a major player, the rise of tokens like Mpeppe (MPEPE) could signal a shift in the market, as investors seek out new opportunities with greater upside potential. Whether Ethereum can regain its dominance remains to be seen, but for now, Mpeppe is leading the charge in the high-growth altcoin space.
For more information on the Mpeppe (MPEPE) Presale:
Visit Mpeppe (MPEPE)
Join and become a community member:
https://t.me/mpeppecoin
https://x.com/mpeppecommunity?s=11&t=hQv3guBuxfglZI-0YOTGuQ
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