As hackers escalate social-engineering attacks, top crypto platforms scramble to reinforce internal defenses.

Key Highlights:

• Binance and Kraken were both targeted by the same social-engineering attack that breached Coinbase, but successfully repelled it without data loss.
• Hackers attempted to bribe customer service agents, echoing tactics used in the $20M Coinbase breach—just as DOJ indicts 12 in $263M global cybercrime ring.

Yello ParadiseSquad, the cyber wars are escalating fast, and this time, the attackers came knocking at Binance and Kraken’s doors. According to insiders, both top-tier exchanges were targeted in the same coordinated bribery scheme that successfully breached Coinbase earlier this year. The twist? Binance and Kraken shut it down before any damage was done.

The attackers tried the exact same playbook: bribe support agents, gain internal access, and extract customer data. At Coinbase, the hack led to a massive breach of names, addresses, IDs, and account balances—followed by a $20 million ransom demand. But at Binance and Kraken, tight internal security, AI-powered monitoring tools, and restrictive access policies helped stop the infiltration cold.

Inside the Bribery Tactics: Telegram Handles, British Accents, and Dark Web Intel

Sources revealed that scammers reached out to Binance agents with bribes and Telegram contact details, hoping to recruit insiders just like they did at Coinbase. Binance’s use of AI bots to detect bribe language in multiple languages flagged the behavior early and killed the conversation.

Meanwhile, at Kraken, similar tactics were attempted—but again, no breach occurred.

In some cases, hackers even used malware-stolen user data purchased from the dark web to impersonate customer service reps. One scam involved calling Binance users in Israel with posh British accents, urging them to “safely” transfer funds to hacker-controlled wallets. Fortunately, this scheme also failed—but it shows how far the social-engineering game has evolved.

DOJ Strikes Back: 12 Charged in Global Racket

In a separate but clearly connected development, the U.S. Department of Justice announced charges against 12 individuals in a $263 million social-engineering conspiracy. The scheme used similar tactics—phony identities, malware, and bribed insiders—to steal Bitcoin and launder it across borders. The indictments underscore what many in the industry already fear: we’re in a new phase of crypto-specific cybercrime—and it’s getting more organized by the day.

Don’t Wait for an Apology Email—Get on Safer Platforms Now

With social-engineering attacks spiking, Coinbase’s reputation has taken a hit, even as it promises reimbursements and fires compromised staff. But if you want to trade with peace of mind, we continue to recommend MEXC, BingX, and KCEX—exchanges with stronger internal controls, smarter fraud detection, and better user support frameworks than their larger, more centralized counterparts.

We’ll be unpacking how these attacks work, which platforms are most vulnerable, and what tools you can use to protect your own assets in our YouTube stream, with real-time user safety strategies sent to ParadiseFamilyVIP members.

Join MCP News Private for just $3/month to stay ahead of the hacks, scams, and insider threats that could compromise your assets before you even know it’s happening.

Because when crypto support agents are the attack vector, your best defense is choosing an exchange that doesn’t leave the door open.