An Ethereum user lost 4.556 ETH, worth over $12.4 million, after accidentally sending funds to a fake address created by hackers in an “address poisoning” scam.
According to analyzed data, the attacker created a wallet address with the same starting and ending characters as the legitimate Galaxy Digital receiving address. Then, the hacker sent small transactions into the victim’s wallet to make this fake address appear in the transaction history, making it look familiar and trustworthy.
Due to frequent transaction habits and the desire to act quickly, the victim opened the transaction history, copied the fake address without checking the entire string of characters. This copy–paste mistake caused all 4.556 ETH to be transferred directly into the attacker’s wallet.
Address poisoning scams are increasing in the crypto space, as hackers exploit users’ tendency to only check the first and last few characters of a wallet address. Previously, at the end of 2025, another investor lost up to $50 million in a similar manner, even after attempting to transfer a small amount first. This initial test transaction was exploited by hackers to create a fake address that closely resembled the real one, leading the victim to send the remaining funds to the wrong address.
Experts advise users not to copy addresses from transaction history but to verify the entire wallet address before sending funds. Additionally, using ENS or saving trusted addresses in a wallet’s contact list can reduce risks. Some investors also suggest splitting large transactions into smaller parts instead of transferring all funds at once to limit potential losses in case of errors.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Tom Lee: The market is showing signs of forming a bottom; Ethereum, BMNR, and Bitcoin are recommended.
Gate News message, April 10, renowned market analyst Tom Lee posted that there are increasing signs the market bottom has already formed, even though the overall market still generally remains skeptical. Tom Lee suggested that for investors who are still skeptical, they could consider buying assets that performed ahead during the U.S.-Iran war. He pointed out that Ethereum and BMNR are among his top picks, and Bitcoin is also included among the recommendations. Tom Lee believes that crypto assets have already proven themselves to be a store of value during wartime.
GateNews28m ago
Grayscale transferred 1,327 ETH and about 406 BTC to a certain CEX, for a total value of over $3.8 million
Gate News update: On April 10, according to Arkham monitoring, about 1 hour ago, Grayscale transferred 1,327 ETH and approximately 406.187 BTC to a certain CEX, totaling more than $3.8 million in value.
GateNews35m ago
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs See Positive Inflows, Solana ETFs Record Outflows on April 10
Gate News message, according to the April 10 update, Bitcoin ETFs recorded a 1-day net flow of +4,614 BTC (+$334.63M) and a 7-day net flow of +7,358 BTC (+$533.62M). Ethereum ETFs showed a 1-day net flow of +23,039 ETH (+$51.38M) and a 7-day net flow of +15,349 ETH (+$34.23M). Solana ETFs experience
GateNews1h ago
ETH Breaks Above 2250 USDT
Gate News bot message, Gate market display, ETH breaks through 2250 USDT, current price is 2250 USDT.
CryptoRadar1h ago
