BlueSky Surpasses 20 Million Users Amid Rising Scam Concerns
/ 3 min read
Quick take - BlueSky, a decentralized microblogging platform that has recently surpassed 20 million users, is facing increasing challenges with scams and fraudulent activities, particularly related to cryptocurrency, as its growth attracts both new users and malicious actors.
Fast Facts
- BlueSky, a decentralized microblogging platform, has surpassed 20 million users, attracting both new users and malicious actors.
- The platform is experiencing a rise in cryptocurrency scams, similar to those seen on X/Twitter, with reports of fraudulent posts promoting fake crypto assets.
- Notable scams include misleading promotions for “MetaChain” and “MetaCoin,” falsely associated with Meta, and claims of “FREE Satoshi Bitcoin” leading to inaccessible sites.
- BlueSky’s safety team has received over 42,000 user reports in one day, highlighting the urgent need for effective content moderation amidst the challenges of decentralization.
- The platform’s unique structure allows users to create their own instances, complicating moderation efforts and enabling scammers to promote dubious schemes.
BlueSky Surpasses 20 Million Users Amid Rising Scams
BlueSky, a decentralized microblogging platform based on the AT protocol, has recently surpassed 20 million users. The platform’s growth has attracted both new individuals and malicious actors.
Challenges with Scams and Fraudulent Activities
As BlueSky expands, it faces increasing challenges related to scams and fraudulent activities, particularly in the realm of cryptocurrency. Reports have emerged detailing a rise in cryptocurrency scams on BlueSky, echoing similar schemes previously observed on X/Twitter.
One notable incident involved a post featuring an AI-generated image of Mark Zuckerberg, which misleadingly promoted crypto assets named “MetaChain” and “MetaCoin.” These assets falsely associated themselves with Meta and its “Metaverse” concept. The website linked to this promotion has been identified as impersonating Meta’s branding, furthering the deception.
Another post claimed that users had won “FREE Satoshi Bitcoin” valued at $900,000, leading users to a now-inaccessible GitHub Pages site. Concerns about the prevalence of scams on BlueSky have been voiced by users, including one user identified as @krankenpflegel.de.
Investigations and User Reports
Investigations by BleepingComputer have uncovered numerous crypto “airdrop” posts that direct users to domains previously classified as fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platforms. Some of these posts have utilized video snippets from popular TV shows, and strategic hashtags have been used to enhance engagement with these posts.
The fraudulent schemes on BlueSky have promised large amounts of Bitcoin and Ethereum, often with no trading requirements, luring unsuspecting users into potential traps. In response to the surge in scams, BlueSky’s safety team has reported a significant increase in user reports, receiving over 42,000 reports in a single day—approximately 3,000 reports per hour. This is an alarming rise compared to prior periods.
Moderation Challenges in a Decentralized Environment
The safety team is prioritizing the removal of harmful content, including child sexual abuse material (CSAM). However, the decentralized nature of BlueSky complicates content moderation efforts. Users can create their own instances, enabling interaction across different BlueSky instances, which provides greater freedom and control over content.
Unfortunately, this decentralization also allows scammers to establish their own instances to promote dubious trading schemes, further complicating moderation strategies. Additionally, search engines may index posts from these third-party instances, potentially enhancing the visibility of fraudulent websites.
As BlueSky continues to grow, its unique moderation architecture presents distinct challenges that need to be addressed to safeguard users from fraudulent activities. Ensuring the integrity of the platform remains a priority.
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