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In today’s digital world, scams are everywhere. We all like to believe we’d spot one from a mile away — but sometimes, the scammers get smarter, more convincing, and incredibly targeted. I recently experienced a phishing attempt firsthand when I received not one, but multiple phone calls from people claiming to be Coinbase Support.
They were professional, persistent, and alarmingly specific about my account. It started as a vague security warning and quickly escalated into what felt like a full-blown interrogation. The entire experience left me unsettled and more aware of just how easily even cautious people can be caught off guard.
If you’ve ever received a call about fraud on your Coinbase (or any crypto) account, or if you’re just looking to protect yourself from increasingly convincing phone scams, I hope my story helps you stay ahead of these bad actors.
The First Call: A Seemingly Legitimate Alert
It started with an automated phone call. The voice was robotic but clear. The message was short and to the point:
“This is Coinbase Support. We’ve detected a request to change your account password. If you did not initiate this request, press 1.”
Something about it felt off, but not completely out of the ordinary. I hadn’t requested a password change, and I do have a Coinbase account, so I hit “1” out of caution.
A few days later, I got a call from a live agent. That’s when things got strange.
A Real Person, Real Convincing
The man on the other end sounded professional. Not overly pushy or robotic — just concerned. He calmly explained:
“We’ve detected suspicious activity on your Coinbase account. Someone attempted to change your password and update your email address. We’re calling to verify that this wasn’t you.”
So far, nothing seemed too far-fetched. I’ve received similar alerts from other services before. What made me pause, though, was how quickly the conversation turned from helpful to pushy.
The “agent” asked me to confirm some details about my account, including my email address and activity history. I was vague in my responses. That seemed to frustrate him.
He then gave me a case number and asked me to visit a specific website — which he claimed was part of Coinbase’s support infrastructure — and enter the code.
That’s when my internal alarms really started going off.
When I Pushed Back
I asked a simple question:
“Can I do this later? I’m not comfortable entering information on a site I don’t recognize.”
Immediately, the tone shifted. He insisted:
“No, this must be handled now or your account could be permanently locked due to suspicious activity.”
That’s a common pressure tactic scammers use — urgency. Create panic, force a fast decision, and hope you act before thinking.
By now, I was pretty sure this was a scam. Rather than play along, I told him I’d reach out to Coinbase Support myself — through their official website. Before he could object again, I hung up.
The Second Call: Same Script, Different Voice
I wish I could say that was the end of it, but it wasn’t. About a week later, my phone rang again — same area code, different number.
Again, the caller claimed to be from Coinbase Support.
This time, the conversation was shorter, but even more suspicious. After a brief confirmation of my identity, the caller asked if I’d noticed any unauthorized changes on my account. I played along just long enough to observe what they were fishing for.
He asked:
“Can you confirm the approximate balance in your account right now?”
Figuring I had nothing to lose, I told him:
“Yeah, I’ve got about $160 in there.”
His response?
“Okay, thank you.” Click.
He hung up instantly.
That moment solidified it: these were scam calls, not official Coinbase contact.
Why This Was Clearly A Scam
While the calls felt professional on the surface, several red flags confirmed my suspicions:
1. Unsolicited Contact
Coinbase does not cold-call users. Their official communication channels are email, in-app messages, and secure help tickets through their site. If they ever do call, it’s usually only after you request a call via their support center.
2. Pressure Tactics
The first caller used urgency to try to get me to enter a code on a website I didn’t recognize. Legitimate companies won’t rush or threaten you into action. If someone pressures you to “act now or else,” take a step back.
3. Phishing via Case Numbers
Providing a fake “case number” to legitimize the situation is a clever trick. It makes the call feel more official, especially when paired with a URL. Don’t fall for it — these case numbers mean nothing if they’re being used to lure you into a phishing trap.
4. Asking for Account Details
Scammers will ask for anything they can use — even small details like account balances or email addresses. These can be enough to start piecing together a profile they can use for more targeted attacks later.
What They Might Have Been After
There are a few possibilities here:
- Account Takeover: By collecting enough information, scammers might try to reset your password using social engineering or by guessing security questions.
- Credential Harvesting: That “website” they wanted me to visit could have been a fake Coinbase login page designed to steal my credentials.
- Phishing for Future Attacks: Even knowing that I use Coinbase and how much I have in my account ($160) could help them or others target me again later.
- Wallet Address Tracking: In some advanced cases, scammers try to get users to send crypto to a “test wallet” or under the pretense of fixing a problem — once it’s sent, it’s gone.
What I Did After Hanging Up
Once I realized what was happening, I took a few important steps — and you should too, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation:
1. Changed My Password (From a Safe Device)
Even though I didn’t give out my credentials, I changed my Coinbase password immediately — just in case. I also enabled two-factor authentication (2FA) if it wasn’t already on.
2. Reported the Scam to Coinbase
I submitted a report via Coinbase’s official scam reporting form to help them track the phishing attempts. This is crucial — it helps protect other users.
3. Blocked the Numbers
Though scammers often use spoofed or rotating numbers, I still blocked the numbers that had called me. It won’t stop all future attempts, but it might slow them down.
4. Warned Friends and Family
I told a few close friends and posted about it online. Spreading awareness is one of the best ways to fight back against these scams.
Don’t Get Caught Off Guard
Crypto scams are on the rise — especially as more people buy and hold cryptocurrency through platforms like Coinbase. What makes this type of scam so dangerous is how convincing it can be. These aren’t your typical “Nigerian prince” emails anymore — they’re well-orchestrated phishing operations that prey on fear and urgency.
Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Never share sensitive info over the phone unless you initiated the call to an official support number.
- Verify URLs before clicking. Always go directly to the website by typing it in — never trust a link sent by a caller.
- Enable 2FA on all accounts, especially crypto-related ones.
- Use a password manager to generate and store strong, unique passwords.
- Stay skeptical. If something feels off, it probably is.
Final Thoughts
Getting scam calls about your Coinbase account — or any financial account — can be scary. These scammers are persistent and clever, and they thrive on catching people off guard.
In my case, I trusted my instincts, asked questions, and chose to disengage. That small decision may have saved me from losing access to my funds — even if it was “just” $160. Because ultimately, it’s not just about the money. It’s about protecting your personal information, your digital identity, and your peace of mind.
