A quick search on Google for Sony’s blockchain ecosystem Soneium reveals a deceptive top result that, if engaged with, will instantly drain your wallet.

This phishing scam abuses Google’s ad service in order to reach the very top of its search results. On the outset, everything looks kosher — the link appears to be legit (soneium.org) and the description, though a little buzzword-y, rings true.

“Soneium Minato Testnet — Soneium enables developers and users to bridge creative ideas with cutting-edge technology,” the top result for ‘Soneium’ on Google reads. “Soneium offers a user-friendly environment that connects innovative minds worldwide.”

Unfortunately, that’s not the only thing this deceptive site is connecting. After several redirects, the ad will take you to ‘someium.org.’ A carbon copy of soneium.org, users could easily mistake it for the real thing. If they were to connect their wallet, the phishing scam will immediately drain their funds.

Read more: New bitcoin sextortion scams in Canada use photos of victims’ homes

This concerning mirror site was initially flagged by Scam Sniffer on X (formerly Twitter). The sleuths warned followers that, even if soneium is misspelled as someium, the top result will likely be the same phishing scam.

To avoid this Soneium phishing scam, make sure to always check the final URL. Phishing ads disguise as official domains through multiple redirects, as is the case here — meaning that even if the link you click on appears legit, the site you end up on may have an entirely different URL.

Protos has reported the ad to Google.

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The post Sony’s blockchain venture Soneium has a phishing scam issue appeared first on Protos.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) says it has the private keys to nearly $190 million worth of Bitcoin, which had been bought with cash allegedly embezzled from Sony’s life insurance subsidiary.

According to prosecutors, Sony Life employee Rei Ishii falsified transaction instructions to fraudulently authorize transfer of around ¥17 billion ($149 million) in company funds.

Ishii allegedly directed the funds to a La Jolla, California bank account in May 2021 before exchanging them for Bitcoin.

On Monday, the Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a civil forfeiture to return the Bitcoin to Tokyo-headquartered Sony Life, or at least the funds used to buy it.

“It is our intent to return the stolen money to the victim of this audacious theft, and today’s action helps us do that,” said Acting US Attorney, Randy Grossman.

“Criminals should take note you cannot rely on cryptocurrency to hide your ill-gotten gains from law enforcement. The United States coordinates extensively with its international partners to forestall crime and retrieve stolen funds,” Grossman added.

FBI ‘obtains’ a lot of Bitcoin private keys

According to a statement issued by Sony Life, Ishii was arrested by Tokyo Metropolitan Police on November 29. This was the result of a joint collab by Japanese and US investigators.

FBI special agent in charge Suzanne Turner said both Sony and Citibank cooperated with law enforcement to track the missing millions.

• The investigation began following Sony’s discovery of the missing funds in August.
• The FBI seized 3,879.16 BTC ($188.9 million) on December 1.
• Thanks to a Bitcoin price rally, the funds are now worth over $190 million — 25% more than in May.

“The FBI’s technical expertise was able to trace the money to the subject’s crypto wallet and seize those funds,” she added.

Predictably, the FBI continues to keep its apparent ability to obtain Bitcoin private keys a secret.

In this case, it could’ve worked with Ishii’s chosen crypto exchange to retrieve the funds, or seized computer hardware that contained their Bitcoin private keys.

Read more: [Bitcoin’s Lightning Network is now under surveillance by US government spooks]

In May (the same month that Sony’s funds went missing), the FBI recovered a Bitcoin ransom paid to Russia-linked DarkSide.

DarkSide hijacked the systems of major gas seller Colonial Pipeline, which cut off almost half of the US East Coast’s gas supply.

In that case, the FBI also “obtained” a private key to recover just over 63 BTC ($3.1 million). This represented around half of the ransom paid to DarkSide.

The agency refused to give up its tradecraft when asked by journalists how they learned of DarkSide’s private key (or its 12-word crypto password).

This led to erroneous reports that suggested the FBI had “cracked” Bitcoin.

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