Scammers Using Orlando Shooting to Solicit Bitcoin Donations

Recently, a terrorist attack occurred in Orlando, Florida, killing 49 people. The fraud gang used this incident to set up fake accounts on Twitter to lure victims to donate Bitcoin on their behalf.

The scammers used an account called @PulseOrlandoUSA and attached a tragic hashtag to it. According to a US technology blog, in order to attract attention after the shooting, they forged thousands of water armies to create account profiles.

The account was closed after raising just $ 30 worth of Bitcoin.

User identification scam

The account directed users to a URL to make donations, but savvy social media users discovered that the URL linked to an unrelated, six-month-old domain called desifreemovies.net , which was registered to a fake address in California.

Crypto tracking site Blockonomics said the scammers raised just 0.04293381 bitcoin (worth $ 30 ) before the site was shut down.

Legitimate Websites to Accept Donations

The GoFundMe page, which accepts legal donations and has raised $ 3.7 million for survivors and victims' families, has been set up by the Florida Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Civil Rights Organization (LGBT ) , and Disney has announced it will provide an additional $ 1 million to help with counseling, recovery therapy and funeral services.

"We encourage those who want to show their support by making a donation," said Holly Salmons , president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Central Florida, according to MarketWatch . " Scammers often take advantage of the strong emotions that the public feels after a tragic event."

Business groups warn of scams

The Better Business Bureau , an organization that provides the public with information on charities and businesses , said it had become aware of " false donations and suspicious requests " from people claiming to be from Orlando families .