USDC Users Targeted by Sophisticated ’CircleMetals’ Tokenized Metals Scam During Holiday Lull
A fraudulent platform posing as legitimate stablecoin issuer Circle emerged during the holiday trading lull, promoting unrealistic swaps of USDC for purported gold (GLDC) and silver (SILC) tokens. The operation, branded 'CircleMetals,' promised 24/7 trading with COMEX liquidity and a suspicious 1.25% bonus paid in an unverified 'CIRM' token—which does not appear on any major cryptocurrency data aggregators.
The scam employed classic wallet-drain tactics: users who connected their wallets to the unverified site risked immediate asset theft. Circle has officially disavowed any connection to the operation. The fake site was taken offline following media exposure. This incident highlights the ongoing challenge within the crypto ecosystem: bad actors exploiting trusted brand names during periods of lower market vigilance and liquidity.