YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — Chinese authorities have issued a warning about DeepSeek crypto scams where fraudsters impersonate DeepSeek developers to deceive investors. These criminals promote fake blockchain projects, claiming they are built on DeepSeek technology to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes.
Authorities revealed that scammers launched crowdfunding campaigns, collecting funds under the pretense of a legitimate DeepSeek investment platform before disappearing. Investors were misled into believing they could earn over 10,000 yuan ($1,373) per month by participating in these fake projects.
DeepSeek Crypto Scams Sell Worthless Training Programs
Fraudsters expanded their schemes by selling fake DeepSeek training courses, promising high earnings. Authorities identified a tutorial sold for 39.9 yuan ($5.5), which claimed to teach users how to create viral content. However, only four out of 104 pages contained any useful information, while the rest was publicly available material.
In another instance, scammers organized monetization training camps, charging between 299 yuan ($41) and 399 yuan ($55) for courses that provided no real value. Many victims believed these training programs were part of an official DeepSeek initiative.
Fake DeepSeek Communities Promote Fraudulent Tokens
Fraudsters created fake DeepSeek communities to gain the trust of investors. They promoted DeepSeekCoin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency, claiming it had strong technical backing. Victims who invested in the token lost their funds.
Authorities found that scammers used social media platforms and fake DeepSeek groups to spread false information, convincing investors that the DeepSeekCoin project was legitimate. Many victims joined these groups, believing they were part of an official DeepSeek initiative.
DeepSeek Denies Any Connection to Crypto Tokens
In January, DeepSeek officially distanced itself from any cryptocurrency projects, warning users against fraudulent claims.
“DeepSeek has not issued any cryptocurrency. Currently, there is only one official account on the Twitter platform. We will not contact anyone through other accounts,”
DeepSeek stated.
Authorities noted that fake DeepSeek investment platforms continued to appear, misleading investors with false promises of high returns.
Malware-Infected DeepSeek Apps Steal User Data
Authorities uncovered malware-infected DeepSeek applications disguised as legitimate software. These fake apps, including DeepSeek.apk, DeepSeek.exe, DeepSeek.msi, and DeepSeek.dmg, aimed to steal sensitive user information. Once installed, they prompted users to download updates embedded with malicious code. This allowed cybercriminals to access system features, contacts, messages, and private data.
In some cases, the malware prevents users from uninstalling the app, making it difficult to remove. Authorities warn that as DeepSeek gains popularity, similar scams are expected to increase.
Authorities Warn of Growing AI-Related Scams
Officials caution that DeepSeek crypto scams are part of a broader trend targeting AI-related projects.
“It is expected that in the future, virus Trojans of various artificial intelligence applications, including impersonation of DeepSeek, will increase,”
Chinese authorities stated.
Authorities advise users to verify sources before engaging with any DeepSeek investment opportunity and to avoid downloading unverified DeepSeek applications that may contain malware.
