A new scam report has surfaced involving a sophisticated impersonation scheme on Telegram. The scammer used a deceptive username trick—replacing a lowercase “L” with a capital “I”—to pose as a trusted individual. By mimicking the real person’s profile picture and username (@hodldiggers vs. @hodIdiggers), the scammer successfully convinced the victim to send 0.1406 BTC ($15,300 at the time of the transaction).

Scam Details:

Scammer’s Bitcoin Address: bc1q4qj3pdmkgeuzlwsn78jw623ce0w05p07eyfh9j

Scammer’s Contact: Telegram account (@hodIdiggers – likely deleted)

Method Used: Impersonation fraud via Telegram

Losses Reported: 0.1406 BTC ($15,300)

How the Scam Happened:
The scammer impersonated a trusted individual, claiming to need Bitcoin for purchasing mining equipment. The victim, believing the request was legitimate, sent BTC in two transactions:

0.0391 BTC (TXID: 5881d363729f4b1de6cb36e2ccaf6c7638060f0f34a34e7ca60f67c9b69d06a5)

0.106 BTC (TXID: 99e70f198f25385af706d4227ce8abb9977b01575b06ba027a45149f1a9df666)

A second victim from the same Telegram group also fell for the scam, sending BTC to the same address in separate transactions:

TXIDs: 216b0f23143a07bb5dfe24fb92608ffd6043098c8e713bd0ca4093a461152a57 & 5e9792d0df61cb97101bf76fdbe455c95445d0567fbddd322b8d130b616d24b2

Warning to Others:

• Double-check usernames carefully. Scammers often use subtle changes (like replacing “L” with “I”) to trick users.
• Verify identities before sending crypto. Contact the real person through another known channel.
• Be cautious with urgent requests for funds. Scammers create pressure to make you act quickly.
• Avoid sending crypto to strangers. Crypto transactions CANNOT be reversed.

If you have been affected by this scam or have information on this scammer, report it immediately. Stay vigilant and always verify before transacting!