$2,500 stolen as of now. Taking the current teeny tiny price into consideration. 38,000 Hive to be more specific. Yet the sum is, alas, going to grow. About thirty victims. Plus dozens more of those who took the scammers' bait, but were protected from losing money by Hive's underappreciated mechanisms: the long Power Down and also the withdrawal period for HBD from Savings.
Scammers prey on ignorance, greed, or simply recklessness. If we stay silent, it plays right into their hands. You might feel that no one could fall for such scams, but the opposite is true. I played around with the database and found accounts that are currently transferring stolen Hive to exchanges. Here are the four accounts:
| Account | Sum of Withdrawals |
|---|---|
| @bunker.hive | 27495.348 |
| @der.prophet | 8544.521 |
| @mencho | 1399.802 |
| @paul.robert | 295.429 |
And these are (probably) their victims. Probably; it is possible that some of the listed accounts transferred the funds voluntarily for some reason. However, everything suggests that everyone listed has temporarily or permanently lost their private keys, and thus their coins. Not your keys, not your crypto…
| Account | HBD | HIVE |
|---|---|---|
| @adexbafo | 0.834 | 10.327 |
| @cagolistic | 590.101 | |
| @dailyspam | 621.072 | 4243.871 |
| @danielito19 | 28.435 | |
| @der.prophet | 4.88 | |
| @drlobes | 13.167 | 3071.19 |
| @eds-pay | 4.201 | |
| @ferrate | 231 | |
| @gboyegaogunmola | 7.7 | 5.9 |
| @hectoredvardson | 49.511 | |
| @hellene8 | 80.275 | |
| @humansleep | 156.834 | |
| @chrysanthemum | 152.559 | |
| @just-writes | 1.461 | 409.707 |
| @juwel2018 | 3.341 | |
| @kadr-pokaze | 392.3 | |
| @karenb54 | 1.491 | 1194.042 |
| @loren89 | 79.851 | |
| @mahmood94 | 127 | |
| @marsdave | 10.698 | 119 |
| @minnamoira | 15.799 | |
| @mudassarfoladi | 1049.553 | |
| @osismi | 31.332 | 7.171 |
| @pavelsku | 9.417 | 7028.348 |
| @pedrobrito2004 | 41.528 | 401 |
| @poetafranko | 12.515 | 44.5 |
| @smogg | 5 | |
| @theorbee | 10.841 | |
| @wahacoce | 1190.538 | |
| @zali.bee | 175.013 |
Keep in mind that scammers may still have access to some of these accounts. If you know anyone on the list, consider giving them a nudge to change their keys, if they haven't done so already. Comments from these accounts may also not actually be written by the rightful account owners.
We cannot do much about greed or recklessness, yet we can fight ignorance. In fact, a crusade against ignorance should be a moral duty for the community.
The Golden Rule: Never give your private keys to anyone. Hive Keychain is a secure, user-friendly solution that allows you to keep them secure. Sending keys via Telegram or Discord is nonsense, and no decent person will ever ask you for them, while scammers sometimes try to trick you out of them using a stolen identity.
Hive is a decentralized community. The issuance of new coins is fixed and guaranteed by the blockchain. No one can give you money just like that; they would have to earn it themselves somewhere or buy it. The easiest way to earn extra is to get more involved. Write more, comment, participate in contests and challenges... Not by clicking on suspiciously generous offers. After all, just like IRL.
It is very easy to impersonate someone's account. When someone comments oddly, check their reputation. Well-known users are well over 70. Known scam accounts, including those trying to steal someone's identity, have gone through a carpet bombing of downvotes and have a reputation below zero. Even if they look completely credible otherwise.
If you come across someone transferring funds to the four accounts listed at the beginning of this post, advise them to change their keys.
If you come across someone complaining on Discord or anywhere else that their account started a Power Down on its own, advise them to change their keys.
Downvote anyone trying to steal identities or spread similar fake giveaways.
And above all, think about what you are doing. And what Hive actually is. Because in the world of cryptocurrency, we also have a great responsibility. And as a community, we should be able to defend ourselves against scammers.
Posted Using INLEO
Im glad this was uncovered, beware of scams, first rule in crypto.
I was one of those who fell into the trap, and I admit it was through carelessness.
An important lesson learned, I hope. And perhaps an incentive to learn more about Hive principles.
!BBH
Trying to share some comfort. (I dont know if it works, though, its my first day trying. )
Thanks for trying :)
!BBH !ALIVE !HUG
O_o. I foudn out I have a long way to go to !BBH delivery. I got some false information But I am here, and. will be back!
A good report @godfish! We all need to learn account protection together, not just for the sake of our own accounts, but also we need to learn how to alert our Hive friends that are just glancing through their Hive interactions of what are tips offs that something is amiss.
Let's spread awareness then :)
Just a little note here - The @eds-pay account you have listed as a possible victim, I don't think is compromised. It pays dividends weekly to holders of EDSI tokens. The account in question held EDSI (that it received from @drlobes listed as a victim) at the time dividends were paid. The wallet @bunker.hive then sold the EDSI and has not received divs since.
So, to summarize:
Thanks for drawing attention here, and this example shows that on top of the HIVE and HBD, there is likely lots of H.E. tokens also involved.
But if that is the case, may @bunker.hive transfer back my alive token unstaked and transfered from my account.
My hive and HBD transfered out from my account.
@Ibi-token have you seen this?
So to summarise, @bunker.hive stole
Over 700 #alive token from my account
Over 54 HBD
Over 44 Hive from my account
If this claim was otherwise carried out in error, may the account owner respectfully return all my tolens and fund stolen or transfered as the case may be.
Thank you
I have not deep dived into this, all I know is that I saw eds.pay on the list of possible victims and checked as it is an account I know and run by a friend. Beyond that I'm not really sure what can be done.
Looks like all those alive tokens from you and others were sold by bunker.hive.
I'm really sorry this has happened to you and others.
I see, thanks for clarification!
Should be constantly repeated as a mantra: "No one in the crypto world will give you anything for free - just like in the real world".
Although we all think we know, it should be repeated for the sake of new users, who may not know, because by protecting them, we protect ourselves, but also the blockchain.
Yep, that's the idea behind this post :) And something I've been doing for years with my Thursday posts.
Excellent work doing this research and talking about it in this post. It's as you say, despite sensing it as something that should be known, we still need to talk about these kinds of things from time to time. Failing to do so or simply ignoring these things only harms those involved further. Now is the time to raise our voices and warn people, whether new or not, to be cautious.
Keep it up!
Particularly those who were scammed should warn their peers.
Humans can be greedy sometimes, and ofc, this greedy nature comes with recklessness. I hope the fallen one learn a lesson from it, along with others as well. I did know of some scam going on, read few posts here and there, but was not expecting such big one 🥲.
I am thinking that it might be possible to automatically monitor for such suspicious activity to potentially warn people earlier. The scammers have been trying a few different methods that do get noticed. They may try something else next.
We should all be more responsible and aware, I guess. The scammers won't waste their time here if they keep failing...
It's strange to me how easy it is to impersonate other people. Makes me wonder how much of a dent we make, how noticeable we really are...
Good to remind people, since no one's immune to brief moments of insanity or carelessness. 🤗
Hope no one starts impersonating me out of revenge ;)
I wouldn't say you're easy to impersonate, love. Not at all. ;)
Glad to hear that :))
I am so confused how people in 2026, still fall for shit like this.
Some are ignorant, some are reckless... It still works, though...
I am one of the victims. I am newly active here, although having been here for almost 3 years. It was a sign in page. I have no idea what pages/ portals are actually legit in Hive and which are not. Well, lesson well learned. I didnt lose much, because I didnt have much. Changed keys immediately upon noticing.
Just never click anything you ain't sure of and never sign in to a page unless you are 100% sure of it x)
There is a chat on peakd, where you can ask. You ask on Hive or in Discord.
Yeah. The problem was that I was sure. 😅 I mean, there are pings and bots coming to tag you from all over. So it can get a little bit overwhelming and you just do what they suggest you should do. Lesson learned.
This is so sad ... evil people taking advantage ... thanks for the update and reminder that we must stay vigilant
Thanks for this post. I fell into the trap also. Keys are changed to prevent happening again. Seems we can't recover whats lost, which can be sad. But thanks.
An important lesson learned at least :) And perhaps an incentive to learn more about Hive principles ;)
Thanks for the report, I wouldn't imagine this could trick that many accounts; been downvoting every post I receive with the scam links
Your article is very important. Unfortunately, my profile was copied. Perhaps I should change my profile picture.
This would hardly help, the face account can change it too. Besides, people still connect you with this one.
Please how can I recover my account? I have been trying to do this, all to no avail.
It is almost impossible. Try this tool though: https://recovery.hivechain.app/
I have tried that. It's not possible. Thank you.
Consider creating a new account and securing your keys then. Fortunately, your don't seem to have many assets on this account.
so sad
Honestly, in 2026, I am very frustrated. Because all the coins I had collected disappeared just like that, and what's even worse is that their names are listed in the transaction history. Even though I never transferred anything to them.
btw... thank you @godfish, you have responded to this issue.
Renew your private keys. Then it will stop. https://peakd.com/@YourAccountName/permissions
Thank you very much for your help... 👽🙌🙏
I guess it was an important lesson learned at least :) And perhaps an incentive to learn more about Hive principles ;)
Have you fully restored your account yet?
Yes, I have, and I have also changed my account password.
Good for you then :)
Thank you for good information and thanks again mention me. I'm changing my key for safety...
Good for you :)
@godfish what about in the case of @josediccus that says he has never shared his keys, because today on his post he was badly hit by these barbarians feasting on peoples sweat.Just take a look at what they stole from him.
https://ecency.com/hack/@josediccus/i-was-hacked-all-my-funds-stolen
And besides, @hivewatchers #witnessess is there nothing that can be done? This is making a newbie likeme feeling discouraged and disappointed 😞
I am reading. Thanks.
Fortunately, even newbies can think for themselves (how long will you consider yourself a newbie anyway?), especially if they describe themselves as "a passionate blockchain enthusiast with a strong interest in decentralized finance and Web3 technologies."
Anyway, what should/could HW and witnesses do in your opinion?
Sanitize the system.And how is it possible for someone not to reveal his keys and still lost his assets
Could you be more specific about sanitizing the system?
And it is obviously not possible.
You listed some likely scammers in your post,why not banned them completely is it not possible?I am still learning anyway, so you can cut me some slacks if you don't mind.Thank you Sir.
How can you ban someone on a blockchain network? And how can you prevent them from creating a new account?
I get you correctly on that, very clear. Now the area of @josediccus according to his post, saying he has never shared his keys with anyone,and still lost everything,what could be the cause?
josediccus lost funds on the Ethereum blockchain, likely due to a Gmail backup.
He has cleared that, thank you 🙏 for clarifying.
I understand. And what you say is very true, nobody gives away money for free just like that.
How do I know I did a power down?
What would be your best guess? Where do you usually track your transactions?
Peakd I don't I'm not familiar with that option; I'd like to know if my account has a shutdown.
What shutdown? And what are you not familiar with?
How to tell if I did a Power Down
Filter your transactions in Peakd wallet. Or check any block explorer of your choice.
Gracias 😊 filtrar es ver mis transacciones, ok entendí
Fui víctima de ese robo y me tocó cambiar todas mis claves. Gracias por denunciarlos aquí.
Great warning! You clearly explained how to spot fake accounts and protect yourself on Hive. Do you think most users carefully check reputation before trusting comments or transactions?
Fecking scammers...
Such a bad experience 😪. I hope that @bunker.hive and the likes turns from their altitude and begin to think how to make this world a better place.
It makes no sense that people are being lured to cart away their hard earned reaources through such negative acts.
There is Karma watching and their is waterloo as well.
But I am happy that I am standing strong and that there are good people in the likes of @bulliontools who are vehichles of goodwill still in the business of doing great things to support people and i am a beneficiary of such benevolence.
Mind you, it was never an act of greed to fall for such posts. Because such real opportunities can happen as well. Especially when one is new and looking for opportunities to leverage and grow.
For me, lesson's have been learnt. Good individuals on this blockchain still suppprting and encouraging the newbies never to give up.
Tutoring and guiding instead of leveraging on ones naivety to do harm. To those good ones, i remain grateful 🙏 and hold you dear to my heart, in high esteem .
To those afflicting and looking for ways to cause pain. Turn around and make this world a better place and write your names in the sands of time.
Peace out
!INDEED
!HOPE
I see. People generally don't just give away free money... What lesson has been learned then?
Besides, a newbie is someone who's been around for a few weeks, tops. People who stick around longer can hardly be called newbies. They should have at least a basic insight into how Hive works, wouldn't you say?
You can never tell the level of exposure and the kind of teaching one gets. I also do not think that someone must get the whole experience before launching out.
Furthermore , I have gotten such opportunities when i was mining tokens like the PAWS and the likes.
So, for me, it is a learning on this terrain, and I am happy for the insights I'm getting from power individuals here.
Even in employment, a newbie runs from 1 to a year, depending on the probation documents and policy. Falling prey to such things can happen to anybody. It might not necessarily be this same style or strategy.
I am learning and unlearning.
What if DApps hide notifications and comments of - 1 reputations accounts? I mean truly hide it, like no showing it in the interface.
You can get -1 rep even for your opinion, not just for being a scammer.