Searching Fireblocks Jobs on LinkedIn? Fake Recruiters, “Interviews,” and Malware Are Waiting

Fireblocks Crypto Jobs Scam on LinkedIn Exposed as Fake Interviews Spread Malware

A sophisticated cybercrime campaign posing as a legitimate recruitment drive has exposed a growing threat facing professionals in the cryptocurrency industry. Fireblocks, one of the world’s leading digital asset custody and security firms, has confirmed that attackers impersonated its recruiters to target developers through LinkedIn, using fake job interviews as a delivery mechanism for malware.

The incident highlights how cybercriminals are exploiting remote hiring practices to gain access to sensitive systems, crypto wallets, and corporate development environments. According to Fireblocks, the campaign mirrors a known attack pattern called the “Contagious Interview,” a social engineering technique previously linked to the Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking organization active since at least 2023.

A Fake Hiring Process That Looked Real

The scam unfolded through LinkedIn, where attackers created highly convincing recruiter profiles claiming to represent Fireblocks. These accounts featured professional photos, realistic work histories, and credible connection networks, making them nearly indistinguishable from legitimate corporate recruiters.

Targets were primarily software developers, blockchain engineers, and security specialists, individuals who routinely expect technical interviews and coding assessments as part of the hiring process. Once initial contact was made, victims were invited to continue discussions via Google Meet, further reinforcing the illusion of authenticity.

During these video calls, scammers conducted what appeared to be genuine interviews. They discussed experience, compensation expectations, project responsibilities, and company culture. According to Fireblocks, some interviews were abruptly disconnected near the end, a subtle red flag that has appeared in similar past campaigns.

The “Assignment” That Delivered Malware

Following the interview stage, candidates were told they had advanced to a technical assessment. They were sent polished PDF documents and links to Figma boards outlining a fictional development task, often described as a “Poker Platform” or similar application. The materials were professionally written, visually consistent, and aligned with Fireblocks branding, making them difficult to question.

Source: Official X

Candidates were then instructed to clone a GitHub repository and run standard setup commands such as npm install or related scripts. While these actions are routine in legitimate development workflows, in this case they triggered the silent execution of malware on the victim’s machine.

Fireblocks confirmed that the malicious code was embedded in the repository itself, allowing attackers to compromise systems without raising immediate suspicion.

EtherHiding and Blockchain-Based Command Control

One of the most concerning aspects of the attack was the use of a technique known as EtherHiding. This method leverages blockchain smart contracts to host or retrieve command-and-control instructions, making the malware infrastructure far more resilient to takedowns and detection.

Once installed, the malware was capable of stealing a wide range of sensitive data, including crypto wallet private keys and credentials, authentication tokens, passwords, and development environment configurations. In some cases, compromised machines could also provide attackers with access to corporate systems, potentially enabling broader supply-chain attacks.

Why This Is Called a Contagious Interview Attack

Cybersecurity experts classify this operation as a Contagious Interview attack because it weaponizes the hiring process itself. The strategy relies on trust, urgency, and professional norms, particularly in remote-first industries like crypto and software development.

This model has been repeatedly linked to the Lazarus Group and documented by threat intelligence platforms such as MITRE ATT&CK and SentinelOne. Previous campaigns using similar tactics have targeted crypto exchanges, DeFi protocols, and blockchain infrastructure providers, often with both financial and espionage-related objectives.

How Fireblocks Responded

Fireblocks launched an internal investigation after receiving inquiries from job seekers about projects that did not exist. The company’s security team quickly identified a network of impersonation accounts and malicious repositories.

Working with LinkedIn and GitHub, Fireblocks helped remove fraudulent recruiter profiles and take down compromised repositories. The firm also coordinated with cybersecurity intelligence partners and law enforcement agencies to contain the threat and prevent further victimization.

In public statements, Fireblocks emphasized that no internal systems were breached and that the attack targeted individuals outside the company by exploiting its brand reputation.

How Job Seekers Can Protect Themselves

The incident has renewed calls for greater caution among professionals navigating the competitive crypto job market. Fireblocks reiterated that all legitimate openings are published exclusively on its official careers page, accessible via hokanews-linked references and its verified corporate website.

Authentic recruiters communicate only through official company email addresses and verified LinkedIn profiles. Fireblocks also stressed that it never asks candidates to run unverified code or clone repositories as part of early-stage interviews.

Security experts advise job seekers to independently verify recruiter identities, avoid executing code from unfamiliar sources, and treat unsolicited technical assignments with extreme caution, even when they appear professionally produced.

A Warning for the Entire Crypto Industry

The Fireblocks fake job interview scam underscores how cybercriminals are adapting to modern work practices. As remote hiring becomes the norm, especially in global crypto and technology sectors, attackers are finding new ways to exploit trust-based workflows.

What makes this case particularly dangerous is its realism. The interviews were convincing, the documentation was polished, and the technical steps mirrored legitimate hiring processes. For developers, the lesson is clear: security vigilance must extend beyond production systems and into career interactions themselves.

Conclusion

The exposure of the Fireblocks crypto job scam serves as a critical reminder that recruitment channels have become a new frontline for cybercrime. By impersonating trusted companies and exploiting standard interview practices, attackers are finding ways to bypass traditional security defenses.

As remote work and decentralized finance continue to expand, both companies and professionals must adopt stricter verification habits. Trust, in the digital economy, must be continuously validated, not assumed.

hokanews.com – Not Just Crypto News. It’s Crypto Culture.

Writer @Erlin
Erlin is an experienced crypto writer who loves to explore the intersection of blockchain technology and financial markets. She regularly provides insights into the latest trends and innovations in the digital currency space.
 
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