I have always heard people talk about being scammed. Then, I always believed that it was because they weren’t smart enough to detect the tricks, until it happened to me on the Hive blockchain.
The fake airdrop link
It started around the end of February 2026. I saw a link on one of the microblogging frontends talking about airdrops for loyal Hive bloggers. Then I was about 8 months old on the Hive blockchain. A click on that took me to a site where I was asked to log in with my keywords, which I ignorantly did; boom, they knocked me out, prompting me to enter the other keyword. Sequentially, I used my three keywords on that link, which was their target.
Boom, my Hives token started disappearing; after the swap, they advanced to my HBD and from there to my tokens. It was a bitter experience. I felt devastated and nearly gave up blogging on the Hive keychain.
However, in the search for answers to what happened and how it happened, I approached one of the MODS in the Ladies of Hives Discord channels, and she immediately switched into action after asking me several questions to decipher what transpired. That was when she uncovered the fake Hivesigner site that was used to scam me. So, after all, the airdrop link I clicked on the microblogging site was a scam link that is also connected to a fake Hivesigner website where they emptied my wallets. I was scammed to the tune of over 500 Hives, over 700 ALIVE tokens, and 54 HBD.
At that point, the MOD assisted me in recovering my keys and counselled me on the way forward. Tutored me on the do’s and don’ts while blogging. The MOD also encouraged me by checking up on me. I also received some Hive donations from good personalities. However, I spoke to myself and read more about scams and how to stay safe online. I also learned how to put my funds in my savings wallet and withdraw them within the window I need them.
The address used to swap all my tokens
However, I did not recover what I lost; I continued to get support when I wrote about the experience in some community posts. That way, healing began to creep in because I was devastated and didn’t want to continue after that huge loss. But with continued support from many Hive bloggers here, I started recovering emotionally and was encouraged to start writing again and interacting with people.
Experience is the best teacher. Now, I no longer click on links anyhow, even if they are from my friends. I scrutinise it and take a look at it again and again before I click it. Again, once bitten, twice shy, I no longer leave my account or apps open after use; I log out of my desktop version after using it and, most importantly, my Hive app extension. I have a second PIN authentication to protect my Hive keychain app usage.
Finally, I do not smack at other people when they complain of being scammed; rather, I empathise and look for a way to lend a helping hand because I have been there, so now I am in a place where I can support victims rather than criticize in such a difficult situation.
All images are mine
Thank you for stopping by. See you again.