The irony of being scammed

[Plotinus]

It is extremely ironic how I got here.

About me, I am a teacher of International Economics and I constantly update my program. Right now I am willing to build a crypto part on international economic relations course.

I've been researching the crypto movement since 2017 and even had a couple of analytical tools built back in the day.

As I've returned to this area and made my presence on forums like this I became a victim of the scam. Unfortunately here, on this forum.
I've always been extremely cautious but fell a victim of trust to AltCoinsTalks name. I fell short of 1 ETH
Apparently all I had on my MetaMask wallet.

[hugeblack]

Can you add more details, who scammed you, how it was done and what does AltCoinsTalks name have to do with this scam?
Sorry for your loss, I hope 1 Ethereum isn't a big deal for you.

[Plotinus]

Sure!

I followed a link from here:
https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=325977.msg1677469#new
The one from the AirDrop section

Stupidly enough I followed through QR code via my phone's cam and it triggered a smartcontract.
Had it been through the browser extension, I would have blocked it.

After the smart contract transfered it to these wallets:
0x8da472B318d93E7E473D3893CD40084F2a23D3B3 (already flagged and phishing)
0x450d6d05c246593D050045D729500979cD896afe

1 ETH is still significant sum, I thought of using it as a fuel to write this course in the university. Apparently, this is all I can input now

Not to say I am in Ukraine and business is not running good.

[MUGNIA]

it is really inhumane if the account is really committing fraud, if you have enough evidence then you can ask for help from the forum admin, to resolve it,
maybe this can be a lesson for you not to just scan using QR, it is better to use the old way than the modern way but your wealth is gone
I am really concerned about the loss of 1 ETH and a

[Plotinus]

The transaction is scanned here:

https://optimistic.etherscan.io/tx/0xbdcdc8825eaa4b2830bc08139c044e1176500f097f0288369d7bd9e150b44369

With all the details

[target]

1ETH is still a sum.  Since your Eth is already taken then it's not going to be retrieved anymore unless the scammer willingly sends it back. Sorry that it had to be said this way.  Scammers are always looking for people new to crypto and then lure users with a promise of some tokens.

Crypto as part of international economic relation course, would be interesting. Is this like how crypto being used in international trade?

[Vx1]

Reading your story I think you are a good person, An international economics teacher who wants or is planning to teach Cryptocurreny subjects to your students. If there is someone who deliberately cheats you, so that you lose 1 Ethereum from your wallet.
I hope that you will get a bigger replacement soon, stay enthusiastic and stick to your goal of developing cryptocurrency in your subjects.

[Plotinus]

Crypto as part of international economic relation course, would be interesting. Is this like how crypto being used in international trade?

There're several points. Crypto as an asset
Crypto and smart contracts as a way to stabilize monetary systems, how that will influence interest rate hedging
Cross border transactions and currency controls
International virtual labour migration (international employment without leaving domestic country and avoiding payment fees)

It can be a solid topic. Not to mention Black markets, money laundering, that comprise 5% of global economy

Sorry that it had to be said this way.

You are absolutely right. It was my fault, I haven't read the manual fully. Didn't know you can trigger a contract through QR code

[Plotinus]

I hope that you will get a bigger replacement soon, stay enthusiastic and stick to your goal of developing cryptocurrency in your subjects.

Thank you for your kind words.
Frankly, I felt a bit shocked by this and lost my encouragement to pursue this topic. I know, the real community always consists of different people. But getting stuck upon scammers, motivation falls dramatically.

Not to say the scammer is on this forum and is quite active

[Findingnemo]

You could have explored the scam related information too while pursuing about crypto currency, consider this as a lesson and move on. Don't stop what you are doing for this and I hope you will find more ways to make more money than what you lost in some way.

Scammers are keep evolving so it's our responsibility to not trust everything even if it's posted on this forum.

[Plotinus]

Scammers are keep evolving so it's our responsibility to not trust everything even if it's posted on this forum.

I partially disagree, it is my responsibility to keep my eyes open and I am not whining about the loss.

But if something is published on the forum, there must be consequences from the admins, moderators, — the platform needs hygene to remain healthy and if scammers won't get punishment, at least a ban on the forum, then the forum has very little credibility.

I did explore scamming tools, but there's no end to them so I did get caught.
And the link is still on this forum.

[Sim_card]

Don't scan or connect your wallet to random sites on the internet and avoid airdrops or have a different phone that you are using for airdrops that don't have your wallet with funds on it. Maybe, this is a lesson that you have experienced and also put it as a in your topic.

[Mia Chloe]

~snip

Sorry for your loss OP. Well the crypto space and the internet at large can also be a nightmare especially if you lose your funds. Ever heard of the the statement " DON'T TRUST, VERIFY!! ?? Well the point is be it this forum or some other forum or platform, never click links you are not sure of. Infact if you feel so tempted to click the link which is something I don't advice, try to at least preview before hitting it whole heartedly.

Secondly this your loss is actually one of the disadvantages of making use of a hot wallet. The problem is although it's easy to work with and move funds across, it comes with the disadvantage of being connected to the internet where different scams and hacks lurk.
Did you have a password on your wallet?
I think before you can sign a contract  it should request your password if set.

[Findingnemo]

But if something is published on the forum, there must be consequences from the admins, moderators, — the platform needs hygene to remain healthy and if scammers won't get punishment, at least a ban on the forum, then the forum has very little credibility.

I did explore scamming tools, but there's no end to them so I did get caught.
And the link is still on this forum.

Unfortunately, scams are not moderated here, and these scammers use the freedom of speech to exploit the users by posting scam links. The admin might add them a scammer badge or tag if he was proven to be involved in scam activity but it's a process of proving with the necessary information on reputation board.

But AFAIK, it not utilized much here so just assume every link is leading to some kind of trap for the best outcome.

[Faisal2202]

Sure!

I followed a link from here:
https://www.altcoinstalks.com/index.php?topic=325977.msg1677469#new
The one from the AirDrop section

Stupidly enough I followed through QR code via my phone's cam and it triggered a smartcontract.
Had it been through the browser extension, I would have blocked it.

After the smart contract transfered it to these wallets:
0x8da472B318d93E7E473D3893CD40084F2a23D3B3 (already flagged and phishing)
0x450d6d05c246593D050045D729500979cD896afe

1 ETH is still significant sum, I thought of using it as a fuel to write this course in the university. Apparently, this is all I can input now

Not to say I am in Ukraine and business is not running good.

Sad to hear the loss, I hope things will become good for you, 1 ETH is a good amount though, I know you already know the stuff but we must not trust anything on the forum even shared by a good member or a old member, always take actions like these with dummy wallets. And thanks for this post as it will save many other readers to scan the QR codes from such airdrops not even from the airdrops shared by the OP but all the airdrops.

Scanning QR codes only can be that dangerous who would have though, even sometimes I scan some QR codes random on some shops, or on some advertisements, from now on I won't even do that.