[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong] David Schwartz (데이비드 슈워츠), former chief technology officer (CTO) at Ripple, warned people to watch out for accounts impersonating him on Instagram and other social media. Schwartz directly told a user who believed they were talking to him on Instagram that there was a very high chance it was an impersonator.

On July 19, local time, blockchain outlet U.Today reported that the warning came in a conversation with an X user. The user reacted to Schwartz's post, mentioned an Instagram account and said they had sent a message on Instagram. Schwartz replied that he has not used Instagram for years and said, "There's a 90 percent chance you're talking to an imposter."

Schwartz also laid out the extent of his social media use. He said, "I do have a Facebook account, but I might post something about once every few months." He drew a line by saying that accounts claiming to be him on other channels such as Instagram and Telegram were highly likely to be scams. He effectively made clear that he does not currently run an active Instagram account.

The remarks came shortly after Schwartz had warned that airdrop and giveaway scams targeting XRP Ledger users had increased sharply. He had told the XRP community that related scams were spreading rapidly, and this time he separately pointed to the problem of impersonation accounts using his name. As scams that directly approach individual users continued, he again sent a message to check first whether an account is official.

Impersonation scams are considered one of the most common types in the cryptocurrency market. Scammers copy the names of industry figures or companies, profile photos and posting formats to build trust and then send direct messages. They then repeatedly ask for cryptocurrency transfers, wallet connections, clicks on fake links or the provision of personal information, posing as investment opportunities or customer support.

Ripple has also repeatedly pointed out scams impersonating the company and its executives. It has warned in particular that cases on YouTube have increased in which criminals hijack existing accounts, dress them up as Ripple's official channel and urge users to send XRP. Ripple has said that neither the company nor its executives ask users to transfer XRP.

In this situation, Schwartz's warning is seen as more than simple account guidance, again highlighting that XRP users should first verify who is approaching them on social media. In particular, they should suspect accounts that claim to be Schwartz on Instagram or Telegram, and if someone demands transfers or wallet connections while claiming official status, an immediate step back is needed.

90% chance you're talking to an imposter.