URL of Scam: lbanppy.vip

Type of Scam: Pig Butchering Cryptocurrency Investment Scam
Amount Lost: $123

Victim Description:

The victim was contacted by a woman on WhatsApp, claiming that she had accidentally messaged them. They developed a friendship and had multiple video calls. Eventually, the woman introduced the victim to a cryptocurrency investment platform called Lbank. Initially skeptical, the victim was convinced to invest and saw some initial profits. However, when attempting to withdraw the funds, the victim was asked to pay a tax fee. The woman insisted on paying, but when the victim requested help, the woman changed her number and avoided further contact, indicating that the scam was part of a larger “pig butchering” operation.

Cryptocurrency Address Used:

0x959774b8732382c70D58Ff472D480C6feBb258E0

Open-Source Intelligence Analysis: Key Details of lbanppy.vip Scam

Scam Overview:
The scam began with a social engineering tactic where the victim was contacted by a woman on WhatsApp who claimed to have accidentally sent a message. After building a rapport, the victim was introduced to a fake cryptocurrency platform, Lbank, where they were encouraged to invest. The victim initially saw profits but was unable to withdraw funds when requested, as they were asked to pay a “tax” before doing so. When the victim reached out for help, the woman stopped responding, and the scam escalated with other individuals posing as lawyers. This is indicative of a “pig butchering” scam, where the fraudsters manipulate the victim emotionally and financially over time.

Domain Information:

Domain Name: lbanppy.vip
Registrar: Gname.com Pte. Ltd.
Registered On: February 23, 2024
Expires On: February 23, 2025
Updated On: February 28, 2024
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Name Servers:b.share-dns.net
a.share-dns.com

The domain lbanppy.vip was registered in February 2024, suggesting that the scam is relatively recent. The use of “clientTransferProhibited” status indicates that the domain’s transfer has been restricted to prevent the victims from tracking the owners or moving the domain to another registrar.

Recommendations:
Report the Scam: The victim should file a report with local authorities and online fraud reporting platforms like the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), or file a complaint with the financial institutions involved in the transaction.

Trace the Cryptocurrency Transactions: The victim can attempt to trace the cryptocurrency transactions via blockchain explorers to potentially identify where the funds were sent.

Stop Communication with Fraudsters: The victim should cease all contact with the woman and any other individuals involved in the scam. Further engagement could lead to additional manipulation.

Consult Legal Experts: If the victim has additional information about the scammers (like phone numbers or other identifiers), consulting with a legal expert who specializes in online fraud and cryptocurrency scams may help in legal action or potential recovery.

Secure Remaining Assets: If the victim has any remaining funds in cryptocurrency wallets or exchanges, they should immediately move them to a secure wallet with strong security protocols (e.g., two-factor authentication, hardware wallet).

Warn Others: The victim can share their experience on online forums and social media to help others avoid falling for similar scams. Fraudsters often target many victims in the same way.

Conclusion:
The lbanppy.vip scam is a typical example of a “pig butchering” cryptocurrency scam. The victim was manipulated over time by a scammer posing as a friend and convinced to invest in a fake platform. When the victim attempted to withdraw their funds, they were tricked into paying additional fees and taxes. After the scammer stopped responding and switched phone numbers, the victim realized they were part of a larger fraud operation.