By Nana Muazin 
Security analysts at BitMEX Research have issued an urgent warning to the cryptocurrency community regarding a sophisticated and emerging scam campaign aimed directly at early Bitcoin holders, with a particular focus on wallets dating back to the foundational days of the network in 2011.
According to the latest intelligence gathered by the research firm, the malicious campaign exploits long-dormant cryptocurrency addresses by injecting fraudulent transactions and highly misleading text messages directly onto the blockchain. Attackers are utilizing the OP_Return output feature of Bitcoin transactions, an optional field within the protocol designed to carry arbitrary data, to broadcast their deceptive narratives to anyone monitoring these historic addresses.
The newly uncovered scheme demonstrates a high level of preparation, blending technical blockchain manipulation with classical social engineering tactics designed to prey on the psychological vulnerabilities of asset holders and legal apprehension surrounding lost or abandoned property.
Targeting Historic Wallets and Infamous Addresses
In one of the most prominent and thoroughly documented cases of this campaign in action, the perpetrators targeted the widely monitored and historically significant "1Feex" wallet address. This particular wallet holds an estimated 80,000 Bitcoin, a massive fortune that is widely believed by blockchain sleuths and law enforcement to have been stolen during the catastrophic compromise of the early Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox.
To capture the attention of anyone watching this address, the malicious actors crafted a targeted message embedded in the blockchain data. This message purposefully directs curious observers or potential victims to a meticulously designed fraudulent website that brazenly impersonates Salomon Brothers, the legendary and now-defunct Wall Street investment banking firm.
Upon visiting the fraudulent portal, users are greeted with a fabricated legal notice asserting that the targeted cryptocurrency wallet is officially classified as "lost or abandoned." The platform then attempts to coerce supposed owners into taking immediate action to protect their perceived assets. To prove their legitimate claim to the dormant funds, victims are instructed to either sign an on-chain cryptographic message using their private keys or submit sensitive personal documentation through an official-looking web contact form.
Adding a false sense of administrative urgency and procedural pressure, the warning on the website states that if no formal response or verification is received by October 5, the wallet will be permanently deemed legally abandoned under fictitious statutory rules.
Unraveling the Fake Legal Claims
Security researchers at BitMEX quickly dismantled the legitimacy of the operation, pointing out that the fraudulent website bears no credible connection whatsoever to the real Salomon Brothers or its historical leadership structure.
A closer examination of the phishing platform revealed that while the creators attempted to build an aura of authority by listing a directory of real individuals who genuinely worked at Salomon Brothers back in the 1980s, none of those former financial professionals have any association with this new and spurious entity. Investigators note that the entire setup appears to echo an earlier, controversial campaign linked to figures such as Calvin Ayre, who previously financed various legal maneuvers involving the exact same high-profile Bitcoin address.
BitMEX Research detailed the disconnect in their public advisory, stating that the links between the shell company and the newly launched website are entirely fabricated. They highlighted the presence of an advisory board page featuring real historical Wall Street personnel, noting that these individuals appear to have absolutely no link to the suspicious entity currently orchestrating the digital campaign.
Cryptocurrency community members have also stepped forward to analyze the technical and logical flaws in the scam’s premise. Analysts and experienced blockchain participants have pointed out that a legitimate wallet owner wishing to prove ongoing activity or control over an address would naturally simply move a minor fraction of their Bitcoin balance to establish ownership, rather than risking the transfer of a full balance or handing over control through unsecured web interfaces.
These glaring inconsistencies have led industry observers to conclude that the entire campaign is a calculated social engineering effort engineered specifically to harvest sensitive personal information, private keys, or credentials under the guise of an official legal proceeding. BitMEX has strongly emphasized that users and holders of historic wallets should completely avoid interacting with the contact form or supplying any personal data whatsoever.
The Growing Threat Landscape of Crypto Fraud
The emergence of these specialized, highly targeted social engineering schemes underscores the continually growing complexity and persistence of cryptocurrency-related fraud. As the digital asset ecosystem matures and the financial stakes increase, malicious actors are constantly refining their methodologies to exploit both the technical nuances of blockchain protocols and the human element behind private key management.
This latest warning arrives amid a troubling broader trend of escalating cybercrime within the digital asset sector. Statistical data covering the first half of the year indicates that malicious actors and state-backed hackers have successfully stolen over $2.1 billion across approximately 75 separate security incidents. This represents a concerning 10% increase in total stolen funds compared to the figures recorded during the exact same timeframe in the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for heightened vigilance across all segments of the cryptocurrency community.
Asro 
Layla Zulfa 
Muslim