Crypto scammers abandon TON blockchain amid whale shortage

Crypto scammers who exploited wallet drainers have moved away from the TON (CRYPTO:TON) blockchain, seeking more profitable opportunities elsewhere. 

According to Scam Sniffer, a group that helps users avoid phishing scams, the scammers are abandoning TON due to a lack of “whales,” or large-scale investors, making it less lucrative for fraudsters. 

Previously, scammers had targeted the TON ecosystem by using wallet drainers—tools that siphon cryptocurrencies from victims’ wallets through phishing links. 

The TON blockchain, which gained attention due to airdrop games such as Notcoin and Hamster Kombat, saw a surge in daily active users, and bad actors leveraged TON’s comment feature to bait users into fraudulent transactions. 

Scam Sniffer reported that scammers had caused over $152,000 in losses using this method in May. 

However, with fewer large-scale investors left on the network and a controversial tokenomics structure that discouraged further investments, scammers are now shifting focus. 

Scam Sniffer observed that the fraudsters are now turning to the Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) blockchain, which they anticipate will offer better opportunities for exploitation. 

The TON blockchain’s decline as a scam target also stems from its user base, which consists primarily of airdrop farmers—individuals who engage in minimal transactions, leaving little for scammers to steal. 

Moreover, TON’s reputation was marred by a controversial legal battle with the U.S. SEC, leading to the shutdown of the original project. 

As scammers move on, TON is no longer the favorable environment it once was for fraudulent activity. 

According to Scam Sniffer, “phishing scams are on the rise,” but with enhanced security features on other blockchains, the landscape is changing. 

This development signals a shift in where scammers seek new opportunities, leaving TON behind. 

At the time of writing, the Toncoin price was $5.17.