Google Gemini Cited in a $69K Crypto Scam Investigation

A fraud investigation into a TRON-based rental scam has drawn Google's Gemini chatbot into the case after a victim claimed the AI assistant described the fraudulent platform as safe. The scheme, operated through a site called Tronify.rent, collected approximately $69,651 from around 80 victims in September.

Tronify.rent Was Flagged Months Before the $69K Scam Collapsed

JP, the founder of IOC Investigations, a blockchain forensics firm, detailed the findings in the report. The investigation identified 12 TRON wallet addresses linked to the operation. Tronify.rent presented itself as a TRON energy-rental service promising to cut transaction costs. The service was presented as noncustodial and required users to connect their wallets, but victims reported losing funds after doing so.The domain was registered on 25 November 2025. Threat intelligence platform PhishDestroy had flagged the site as early as February 2026, assigning it a threat score of 90 out of 100.

Victim Says Gemini Described Tronify.rent as Safe Before Deposit

One victim told investigators that they had asked Google's Gemini chatbot whether Tronify.rent was legitimate before depositing funds. The victim reported that Gemini described the site as appearing safe, a response that the victim treated as a form of due diligence. JP noted that the reliance on AI chatbots for financial safety assessments represents a growing risk vector in crypto fraud cases.Google's own documentation states that Gemini "may display inaccurate info, including about people, so double-check its responses." The company has not issued a specific comment on the Tronify case.

AI-Assisted Due Diligence Raises New Risks for Crypto Users

The case exposes a gap in how consumers interact with large language models. Chatbots are not financial advisors and are not security scanners, yet users increasingly treat their outputs as authoritative safety assessments.When an AI tool tells a user that a website "appears safe," the statement carries perceived authority that a simple web search result would not. This dynamic creates liability questions that neither AI companies nor regulators have fully addressed.The case has prompted discussion among fraud investigators about whether AI companies should implement specific disclaimers when users ask about financial platforms.

Investigators Trace the Funds Through TRON's Network

Investigators are working to trace the funds through TRON's network, which has established mechanisms for investigating and freezing illicit assets through the T3 Financial Crime Unit.