Key Takeaways
- Since February, Inferno Drainer has drained over $70 million in crypto from over 100,000 victims
- The files and infrastructure needed to run the wallet drainer won’t be destroyed
In a startling twist, Inferno Drainer, a well-known player in the phishing scam arena, has officially called it quits, marking the end of an era that saw nearly $70 million in digital assets spirited away.
The announcement, made via Telegram, not only signifies the end of operations but also leaves behind critical files and infrastructure for users making the transition to alternative services. The drainer noted that the files and infrastructure needed to run the wallet drainer won’t be destroyed.
Expressing gratitude to its collaborators, the Telegram post exudes a certain farewell sentiment, positioning Inferno Drainer as a standout in the wallet-draining service niche.
“The end of the craziest journey. Inferno drainer is shutting down. It has been a long ride with all of you and we’d like to thank you from heart. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. After +80 millions of $ drained, we decided to shut down, it’s time for us to move on. […] A big thank to everyone who has worked with us such as Drakan and every other customers, we hope you can remember us as the best drainer that has ever existed and that we succeeded in helping you in the quest of making money.”
This “malware-as-a-service” product was no stranger to controversy, operating on a subscription model that charged users 30% for crafting phishing websites and an extra 20% for every successful theft.
According to cybersecurity firm Scam Sniffer, Inferno Drainer successfully plundered close to $75 million within a year, affecting over 100,000 victims across multiple blockchains.
The decision to shut down came amidst swirling rumors linking one of the founders of the Blast protocol to Inferno Drainer. However, an investigation by blockchain analytics firm Loch debunked any real connection between the Blast founder’s address and Inferno Drainer.
Having first emerged in March 2023, Inferno Drainer wreaked havoc, deploying over 9,000 phishing websites and targeting big names in crypto and NFT projects such as Arbitrum, Optimism, MetaMask, OpenSea, and LayerZero Labs. Known for its sophisticated approach, the subscription-based malware not only charged users for phishing websites but also profited from successful thefts.
As Inferno Drainer exits the stage, the crypto community remains on high alert, recognizing the ongoing presence of rival services that may pose threats. The closure serves as a stark reminder for users to bolster their operational security (opsec) to shield their crypto assets, particularly in an environment susceptible to evolving threats.
