A prominent security researcher recently unveiled a sophisticated fake support scam targeting crypto users, with losses allegedly reaching $2 million. The fraudsters impersonated official support channels and exploited social engineering tactics across Telegram and various social platforms to compromise user accounts.

Here's what you need to know to stay safe:

**Red flags to watch for:**
- Any unsolicited DMs claiming to be from exchange support
- Requests to verify your account or "confirm" holdings
- Pressure to act quickly or threats of account suspension
- Links sent through unofficial channels

**Protection checklist:**
- Contact support exclusively through official channels—never through links in messages
- Never, under any circumstances, share your seed phrase or private keys with anyone
- Store significant holdings in hardware wallets rather than hot wallets
- Enable two-factor authentication with authenticator apps, not SMS
- Double-check URLs before entering credentials

Scammers are getting smarter at mimicking legitimate support, but they can't replicate official verification methods. When in doubt, log into the official platform directly and check your message center there.