Scammers are once again targeting the Shiba Inu ecosystem. Shytoshi Kusama, the project’s main developer, has issued a severe warning regarding a fabricated “TREAT” token that is currently circulating on a variety of platforms, including ShibaSwap.
The TREAT token, which is legitimate and intended for ecosystem governance, is currently in the development phase and is scheduled to be officially launched on January 14, 2025.
Chaos From A Fraudulent TREAT Token
Kusama’s announcement was made in response to allegations that unsuspecting users were defrauded into purchasing the counterfeit token. Confusion among investors has resulted from the fraudulent claim that the TREAT token is an early release or stealth launch, which was made by scammers.
Everyone: Bro, it’s the fake treat…
FAKE TREAT BUYER: https://t.co/LshFbNTBgf— Shytoshi Kusama™ (@ShytoshiKusama) January 6, 2025
Kusama emphasized the necessity of authenticating information through official Shiba Inu channels and emphasized that any such claims are unfounded.
The counterfeit token has reportedly acquired traction on ShibaSwap, a decentralized exchange that has played a critical role in the Shiba Inu ecosystem. ShibaSwap continues to be a reliable platform; however, the incident underscores the dangers that fraudsters pose by exploiting decentralized systems.
Treat did not stealth launch years ago. This simply isn’t true.
— Shytoshi Kusama™ (@ShytoshiKusama) January 5, 2025
The Escalating Danger Of Cryptocurrency Scams
This is not an isolated incident. Cryptocurrency scams are on the rise, particularly as projects such as Shiba Inu acquire popularity. In the cryptosphere, it is now common to encounter fraudulent websites, phishing schemes, and fake tokens. In the past, well known platforms have reported similar schemes that have targeted the Ethereum and Dogecoin communities.
Experts have issued severe warnings due to the growing sophistication of these schemes. The strategies that crypto security analysts recommend include verifying token details, double-checking announcements, and using reputable exchanges.
Shiba Inu: Community Awareness
Reacting to Kusama’s warning, the Shiba Inu community has organized to spread knowledge about the fake token. Many have urged using Shiba Inu’s official channels for updates since social media channels have evolved into a central focus for conversations on fraud prevention.
Said to be part of the ecosystem, the counterfeit TREAT currency trades on ShibaSwap under the address “0xFBD…146B.” DExtools reports that it trades at $0.001549 with a market capitalization of $3.11 million.
The new year begins with TREAT! 🔥
Wait is OVER, $TREAT is launching this January.
Let’s kick off 2025 with a bang! 💥
Check it out here 👉🏻 https://t.co/O4wS2E6o3m pic.twitter.com/ebF5gGR0A5
— Treat (@treatsforShib) January 2, 2025
The TREAT token is designed to have governance elements, therefore enhancing the Shiba Inu environment. Investors of today have to be fairly cautious to prevent falling victim to scams.
Shiba Inu fans must keep updated as the official launch date draws near. By keeping alert and conquering these challenges, the society can expect a future free of bogus schemes and other related fraud.
Featured image from Medium, chart from TradingView