Recently, Exdep.com site popped up, promoting itself as a place where you can safely keep cryptocurrency and other assets. I managed to gather reliable evidence that unmistakably indicates it is, actually, a scam platform.
Contrary to the assertions of Exdep.com, they won’t pay off your money. Even though the figures displayed in the “member area”, there is no possibility to take out even a penny. All promises regarding crypto incentives are empty as well.
Exdep Scam Overview
The primary offering that Exdep aims to provide is a secure and convenient crypto wallet service. The site pledges exchange facilities, tools for controlling wallets, transfers, dashboards, and similar stuff. In reality, they try to emulate the functionality of a crypto marketplace, akin to Binance or Coinbase. However, it actually exclusively serves as a shell intended to lull the vigilance.
First and foremost, Exdep mimics the appearance of multiple equivalent pages. There are quite a few examples, like Ellwex, Cawbit or Bitytex. They are completely identical in terms of graphic elements, with minor discrepancies in the site header. Other specific elements, and at times even crypto wallet addresses, are the same. Most likely, all these scam online platforms are managed by the same team of scoundrels.
Cryptocurrency Scam Summary
| Website | Exdep.com |
| Hosting | AS13335 Cloudflare, Inc. United States, San Francisco |
| IP Address | 188.114.97.3 |
| Threat Type | Scam/Fraud |
| Scam Type | Fraudulent offers of cryptocurrency services |
How the Exdep Scam Works?
Exdep is yet another webpage within a wide-ranging network of linked crypto deceptive webpages. The managers utilize various brand titles and websites, like Exdep.com, to ensnare victims. Nevertheless, these fraudulent sites possess matching designs, terms of service, and About Us content. This exposes their sources as parts of the equal fraudulent network, which endorses the similar form of fraud under different appearances. The scammers simply copy the equal scam website under diverse names to fool users into thinking they are participating in a new opportunity. However, in reality, it’s the equal system of swindlers orchestrating the fraudulent promises and efforts to grab deposited money. The administrators cleverly employ psychological strategies and appealing offers to implement their deceitful plots.
Step 1: Spreading
To begin the fraud, criminals establish and fill accounts on popular social media platforms. They primarily target Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Subsequently, the advertising campaign commences. Using bots and paid ads (when feasible), scam actors intensify the exposure of their scam activities to possible victims. This strategy allows them to cast a wide net and connect with their targeted viewers. The latter usually comprises of cryptocurrency enthusiastic individuals searching for opportunities to make profits.
Users receive an incentive to sign up, enticed by the assurance of receiving crypto rewards valued at hundreds of dollars, all without cost. To augment the attractiveness of the offer, fake suggestions of sponsorship by a celebrity are added. As you may guess, these claims are entirely baseless.
Step 2: Gaining Traffic
Individuals who show interest check out Exdep.com via links included in advertisements or robotic posts. The website utilizes captivating visuals, design aspects that appear legitimate, and claims of holding a legitimate license, all aimed to convey an initial perception of trustworthiness.
Step 3: Data Gathering
To collect their benefits, users are required to actively sign up on Exdep and receive guidance to submit sensitive and personal information during the registration process. This comprises linking their cryptocurrency wallets, providing email addresses, supplying phone numbers, sending in identification documents, and the like.
Step 4: Requesting funds
Once signed up, users notice substantial amounts of cryptocurrency, valued at hundreds of dollars, within their Exdep wallets. Nonetheless, as is standard with such rewards, you cannot withdraw them prior to making a deposit. Typically, a deposit of $100 is asked to withdraw the sign-up bonus. This prerequisite serves as the snare that ultimately culminates to the money loss.
Step 5: Disappear
Signs of Scam
I gathered several facts that point at the scammy nature of the Exdep.com. Actually, there are a lot of scams that fall under the same points, so they are pretty much universal.
- Cryptocurrency-Only Transactions. Exdep.com insists on cryptocurrency payments exclusively, excluding conventional methods like bank transfers. This strategy ensures anonymity for the scam and eliminates any possibility of seeking refunds.
- Dubious Company Credentials. Exdep arouses suspicion by failing to provide critical information about ownership, location, and legal registration. The lack of valid contact details and the recent creation of domain and social media profiles cast doubt on its legitimacy.
- Baseless Hype Generation. Exdep resorts to fabricating non-existent achievements, such as contracts with Coinbase or endorsements from Elon Musk, to manipulate emotions and enhance the perception of potential returns, enticing victims to invest more.
- Fictitious Celebrity Association. Exdep employs a deceptive tactic by falsely associating itself with well-known figures like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mr. Beast, and Mark Zuckerberg. Additionally, the scam falsely claims partnerships with established entities like Coinbase, Binance, or MetaMask to bolster its false credibility.
- Potential Ponzi-Like Model. The scam operates on a pyramid-style referral system disseminated through social media, benefiting only initial participants and relying on later investments to sustain the illusion.
- Unrealistic Profit Promises. Promising improbable returns of 50-100-200%, Exdep capitalizes on the desire for high profits. However, the tumultuous nature of the cryptocurrency market renders such gains implausible, solidifying Exdep.com as a definite scam.
What Should I do as a Victim?
If you had to deal with Exdep site and fell victim to that scam, there are still some steps to take. They will make further scam attempts harder, and also boost the knowledge about that scam among folks.
- Secure Your Actions. Begin by promptly reporting the scam to appropriate local authorities tasked with handling financial fraud. Notify wallet providers and engage with social networks’ technical support teams. By taking these measures, you contribute to making the scammers’ operations significantly more difficult.
- Expand Awareness. Extend your efforts by sharing the scam information with your close friends. This action has a parallel effect to reporting to the authorities, as disseminating details about fraudulent crypto services reduces the potential victims they can deceive.
- Gather Evidence. Preserve comprehensive evidence by capturing screenshots and saving all pertinent data linked to the deceptive website. Collect the URL, screenshots of the main page, login interface, end-user license agreement (EULA), account top-up menu, and wallet addresses. These materials could prove invaluable for authorities in their pursuit of the scammers.
- Explore Refund Possibilities. While cryptocurrency payments generally fall outside the scope of refund policies within most banks, it’s worth investigating the potential for a refund in specific circumstances. Maintain optimism until you definitively confirm the loss.
- Convert Mistake into Wisdom. Transform your financial setback into a valuable learning experience. Treat your loss as an investment in understanding the tactics of crypto scam sites. Familiarize yourself with their key characteristics, how they lure individuals, and the grandiose promises they make. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be well-equipped to recognize and avoid falling into future traps without incurring further losses.
Scan your system for possible malware infections
Beware of cross scams! Scam actors can use your trust to make you download some stuff or interact with certain documents. It may be a trap that installs malware to your system. There are no moral barriers or limits for these scoundrels.
Throughout the duration of the fraud, scoundrels may reach out to you with specific documents. Alternatively, they may suggest you to deploy “cryptocurrency wallet applications” or “browser extensions” to streamline access to your crypto savings. As we earlier figured out, these deceivers have no intention of returning your funds. So, what do these messages and browser add-ons represent? You guessed – that is another element of the fraudulent scheme designed to throw you into deliberately running harmful applications onto your computer.
Both plugins and attachments added to emails can serve as a shell for different malware. In this scenario, I expect the presence of spyware and stealers among all types of malware. While it is not mandatory for scammers to distribute malware, the likelihood is always existent. As previously mentioned, their conscience is of negligible importance, and their reputation is already deeply compromised. They have no principles to lose and strive to maximize gains.
Frequently asked questions
- Contact your bank or card provider and ask about chargeback options.
- Save screenshots, receipts, tracking numbers, and emails as evidence.
- Change reused passwords and enable two-factor authentication on important accounts.
- Watch for follow-up phishing emails pretending to offer refunds or delivery updates.
