**Durham Resident Kenneth Nicholson Warns of Cryptocurrency Scam After Losing $80,000**
DURHAM, N.C. – Kenneth Nicholson, a cryptocurrency enthusiast from Durham, North Carolina, shares a cautionary tale after falling victim to a sophisticated crypto scam that wiped out his $80,000 account.
Nicholson is well-known in the crypto community and runs a YouTube channel where he breaks down various investment strategies. “I started to create videos about cryptocurrency and launch my own exchange on cryptocurrency,” he said.
Being active in the space, it’s not unusual for Nicholson to be contacted by others wanting to discuss crypto. His initial contact came through a direct message on social media, which led to several days of detailed conversations. “They lured me in through a few days of conversation and detailed questions,” Nicholson explained.
After exchanging numerous messages, the other party requested a meeting to discuss the technology. “It was just a meeting,” he said.
However, minutes before the scheduled meeting, Nicholson received a message stating there were technical difficulties with the meeting platform. The person then sent him a link to download software to resolve the issue. Trusting the source, Nicholson clicked the link, which opened on his Mac’s terminal and requested his password.
At this point, Nicholson’s instincts raised red flags. “The hairs on my neck started to raise. I opened up the script and I saw that there were a lot of funky characters in there,” he recalled.
Realizing something was wrong, he immediately turned off his Wi-Fi, disconnected all devices, and went for a walk, hoping the scammers hadn’t gained access. But upon returning and logging back in, Nicholson was shocked to find he had been signed out of all his accounts and his crypto funds were gone.
“My crypto account, which had $80,000, was emptied,” Nicholson confirmed. “It’s one of the risks that I guess you’re willing to take. This one hit a bit harder because I’ve never really been scammed like this—a targeted scam.”
Nicholson offers important advice to others in the crypto space to avoid similar scams: slow down when responding to messages. “A lot of times we make mistakes when we’re rushing. I know it’s hard in this day and age when so much is happening, but go a little bit slower and just cross your t’s and dot your i’s,” he urged.
He also emphasized the importance of never clicking on links from unknown sources. Afterward, Nicholson examined the suspicious link and found subtle signs it was fake—it used “.co” instead of the legitimate “.com” domain.
Lastly, Nicholson warns to be extremely cautious before downloading any software, no matter how harmless it may appear. In his case, downloading that seemingly innocent program and entering his password gave scammers full access to his accounts.
Nicholson’s experience serves as a sobering reminder to stay vigilant and protect your digital assets in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.
https://abc7.com/post/crypto-scam-warning-north-carolina-mans-account-drained-8000-he-clicked-link-virtual-meeting/18047208/