DeepSeek AI Success Sheds Light on Growing Crypto Scam Risks

The world of crypto, known for its vibrancy and technological advancements, is once again confronted with a wave of sophisticated scams. Currently, the rapid rise of DeepSeek AI, a Chinese artificial intelligence application that became viral after its launch on January 20th, marks a turning point. This popularity, which propelled the app to the top of the download charts on the App Store, has also attracted the attention of fraudsters. Within 24 hours, no less than 75 fraudulent tokens were created, exploiting the notoriety of DeepSeek to target unsuspecting investors. This phenomenon illustrates how quickly scammers adapt their methods to take advantage of emerging technological trends.

DeepSeek AI : a prime target for scammers

On January 20th, DeepSeek AI launched a new version of its application, triggering massive excitement. In just a few days, this Chinese innovation in artificial intelligence established itself as a viral phenomenon, reaching the top positions in downloads on the App Store. However, this sudden popularity did not go unnoticed. Malicious actors rushed to divert the attention generated by DeepSeek’s success to orchestrate a series of sophisticated scams.

According to BlockAid, a cybersecurity company, at least 75 fraudulent tokens related to DeepSeek were created within 24 hours, representing a staggering increase of 300 % compared to the previous day. Indeed, these tokens impersonate DeepSeek’s identity to exploit investors’ curiosity. “They mimic popular narratives to trap unsuspecting investors,” explains Oz Tamir, an analyst at BlockAid. He emphasizes the speed with which fraudsters surf on trends. Furthermore, some of these scams have taken concerning proportions: one of the fraudulent tokens briefly reached a market capitalization of 48 million dollars, while another peaked at 13 million before collapsing.

The schemes used go beyond simple tokens. Cybercriminals have deployed fake decentralized applications (DApps) designed to imitate the official DeepSeek website. These DApps often include features like the “Connect Wallet” button, which appear legitimate but can empty the victims’ digital wallets as soon as activated. Such a situation highlights a worrying trend: the ability of scammers to exploit technological opportunities to orchestrate large-scale scams.

The increase in frauds : a challenge for innovation

The scams related to DeepSeek fit into a critical trend within the crypto ecosystem. Recent cases, such as memecoins launched around the name of Donald Trump, have demonstrated the ability of fraudsters to flood the market with fraudulent tokens based on popular subjects. These scams, which emerge within hours, pose a major challenge to investors, as well as to developers seeking to maintain the legitimacy of their projects.

In the face of this wave of fraud, DeepSeek has taken the initiative to inform the public through its official channels. In a statement published on its social media, the company stated: “DeepSeek has not issued any official tokens or crypto. Stay vigilant against potential scams.” Despite these efforts, the impact on users and the market remains significant. Thus, fraudulent tokens exploiting the name of DeepSeek continue to sow confusion, while financial losses accumulate for the victims.

The shockwave caused by these scams reaches well beyond individual investors. It directly affects the public perception of crypto and artificial intelligence, reinforcing doubts about the security of these emerging technologies. Simultaneously, markets reacted negatively: a decrease of 5.5 % was recorded over the last 24 hours, reflecting the uncertainty and dismay of economic actors in light of these events.

However, this situation also underscores the urgent need to reinforce regulatory and security measures. Better oversight of projects, combined with more effective tools to identify and neutralize scams, could limit the scope of these fraudulent practices. For investors as well as for the ecosystem, these efforts are essential to restore trust and encourage sustainable adoption of crypto and artificial intelligence.

The artificial intelligence, like DeepSeek, embodies a major technological advancement, but its success also attracts growing threats. For investors, it becomes imperative to combine ambition with vigilance in the face of ever more elaborate scams. In this context, the crypto ecosystem must urgently enhance its security measures. Through user awareness and the development of more effective prevention tools, the sector can transform these challenges into opportunities. Investor confidence and the future of innovations depend on an environment where progress and protection advance hand in hand.