FBI warns of fake Tron tokens in new crypto phishing scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned that fraudsters are circulating fake tokens on the Tron blockchain while posing as the agency, in an apparent attempt to extract sensitive personal information from users.

According to a notice shared by the FBI’s New York Field Office, the tokens appear in wallets with messages that claim the recipient is under investigation for anti-money laundering violations.

Users are then instructed to complete a verification process through an external website, framed as necessary to avoid a complete freeze of their assets.

Authorities have made clear that these requests are fraudulent and should be ignored.

Crypto scammers prey on urgency

Messages embedded within the token’s transaction data, visible via blockchain explorers, carry urgent language designed to pressure recipients into quick action.

One such prompt warns users to comply with verification requirements “to avoid a total block on your assets,” while the linked website suggests that “current sanctions” can be avoided if personal details are submitted immediately.

Officials say the tactic mirrors common phishing schemes that rely on urgency and fear to compromise victims.

“FBI New York encourages users of the Tron blockchain network to exercise caution if they encounter a token purported to be from the FBI,” the office said in its post.

“Do not provide any identifying information to any website associated with such [a] token.”

Data from Tronscan indicates that the token flagged by authorities was created just over a week ago and is already present in 728 wallets.

Several of those addresses reportedly hold more than $1 million in USDT, raising concerns about the scale of potential exposure among higher-value accounts.

The approach appears tailored to exploit perceptions around regulatory scrutiny, particularly as the Tron network has, at times, been linked to illicit financial activity, including sanctions evasion and trafficking related flows.

By invoking law enforcement authority, scammers may be attempting to trigger compliance from users worried about potential investigations.

The FBI has urged anyone who may have interacted with the token or shared personal information to report the incident through its Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Officials also reiterated that the FBI does not issue tokens to the public or request personal information through blockchain-based messages, noting that any such claim should be treated as suspicious.

FBI launched a fake crypto token

The irony of this situation is not lost on industry observers, as it follows a high profile undercover operation from late 2024 where the FBI actually did create its own cryptocurrency.

During the sting operation known as Operation Token Mirrors, investigators launched a token called NexFund AI on the Ethereum blockchain to identify market manipulation.

The project was designed to act as a bait, allowing authorities to observe coordinated wash trading and other illicit practices, ultimately leading to multiple charges against those involved.