Email from OpenSea: fake, scam or real?

NFT – never heard of it? Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are virtual art and have become a digital trend. That is why we have explained to you in an article exactly what NFTs really are. And another article tells you where to buy NFTs.

There is a well-known platform on the Internet where you can buy NFTs – OpenSea. In 2021, nearly 90% of total NFT volume was implemented on OpenSea. Virtually all types of NFTs are traded in the market. As with other platforms, you can create your own profile where you can display your digital possessions. You can pay on OpenSea with Ethereum (ETH), Polygon (Matic) and Klaytn (Klay).

Phishing emails on behalf of OpenSea.io

So it was only a matter of time before this platform caught the attention of scammers. They probably had to first familiarize themselves with the world of virtual art and understand how it works. But now more and more phishing emails are appearing to lure platform users into a trap.

This is what phishing emails look like

So that you do not fall for the scam, we show you the phishing messages known to us on behalf of OpenSea.io. If you receive another message and are in doubt, please forward it to us at [email protected] We will then verify the email for you.

By the way: In another article we will show you how to buy an NFT on OpenSea.

How do you recognize the phishing email?

In general, it is advisable that you are familiar with the subject of phishing. That’s why we would like to recommend our phishing guide to you. You will learn how to recognize spam and phishing messages.

Basically, you need to pay attention to spelling and grammar in emails. If there are too many errors, you can assume it is an attempt at fraud.

It is also important to check the target of the link. Use mouse hover effect for this. You hover over the link without clicking it and see which website is specified as the target website. If you do not know them, you should not click on the link. It is then most likely a phishing e-mail.

This way you will no longer fall for phishing emails

If you receive messages from a website you signed up for, be careful with the links. Because scammers can easily recreate the real messages. But you can avoid the problem. Manually call the provider’s website by entering the address in the browser. Then log in to your account and verify if necessary.

What happens when you click on the link in the phishing email?

In principle, we advise you not to click on the links contained in the e-mails which have been requested from you. The risk of falling into the trap of a phishing email is too great. If you click on the link anyway, you will end up with spam on so-called phishing sites. There you must then enter the access data for your account. For example, OpenSea relates to the Secret Recovery Phrase of your wallet that you have connected to OpenSea.

But beware: if you enter the data here, it will be passed on to unknown third parties. This gives them access to your assets.

What if you clicked on the link?

If you have not entered any data, there is always a risk that you will end up on a website infected with malware. In this case, your device and your personal data are at risk.

If you have already entered your data, you must react quickly in any case. First try logging into your account and setting a new password. You also need to protect your wallet in the same way. If this is not possible, you should contact the respective provider and explain the situation. If you also entered your bank details or credit card numbers on the fake page, you should also inform your bank. If necessary, the card and/or the account must be blocked.

It is important that you go to the police in this case and file a report. After all, fraudsters are in possession of your data and can use it to commit other crimes. It is useful to point this out so as not to be sued later. A report is often also a prerequisite for the credit card company or cyber insurance companies to compensate for the damage that has occurred.