Worldcoin iris scanning frenzy! Cambodians scanning for resale to Chinese, Worldcoin: hundreds of cases already
Chinese media BlockBeats reported yesterday on the "iris black market" news related to Worldcoin, where people in some countries are selling their verified World ID to Chinese users in exchange for monetary rewards. Worldcoin officials confirmed the news today and proposed several measures to prevent this.
Related article: Worldcoin launches ecosystem wallet World App! After verifying with World ID, you can regularly receive World tokens for free.
Worldcoin is going viral especially in mainland of China，even though the region can't register the app
crypto users are finding a new way：buying "iris"（$30 or cheaper）to register the worldcoin app and get the reward($20）. These iris are from Cambodia village、Africa… pic.twitter.com/BQlGCpob1W
— BlockBeats｜We're hiring! (@BlockBeatsAsia) May 18, 2023
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Worldcoin Iris Black Market Phenomenon
The Block's report pointed out that due to the upcoming launch of Worldcoin tokens this year, Chinese users are unable to verify and claim token airdrops on the World App because China has not yet introduced Orb iris scanners.
As a result, there have been reports of KYC merchants collecting iris scans from locals in countries such as Cambodia and Kenya, selling them for around $30, allowing Chinese buyers to use others' iris scans to complete verification and claim rewards.
Worldcoin Official: Hundreds of Cases Reported
According to The Block's report, Worldcoin officials have acknowledged the incidents, with the number of cases estimated to be in the hundreds.
"Through continuous monitoring and threat alerts, the Worldcoin team has identified suspicious and potentially fraudulent activities. In these cases, individuals were incentivized to register a verified World ID, but the World ID was ultimately sent to a third-party World App instead of their own," Worldcoin stated in a release.
To address this issue, Worldcoin is taking a series of measures, including adjustments to the initial registration process and the adoption of dynamic QR codes instead of static QR codes.
Worldcoin Allows Retrieval by Rescanning Iris
Furthermore, even if a user's World ID has been used by others, a simple rescan of the iris on Orb can retrieve it, helping prevent the illegal sale of Proof of Personhood certificates.
Worldcoin Alternative Scam Activity
In addition to identity theft issues, the Worldcoin team has also highlighted "potential fraudulent activities," as evidenced in the image posted by The Block.
The chat room text in the image reads: "Worldcoin is scanning villagers in Cambodia one by one."
Closer inspection reveals that the attached image is actually an official promotional image from Worldcoin's past, indicating that malicious individuals may be deceiving users who are interested in purchasing by taking advantage of the current hype surrounding iris scans.
Regardless of whether one genuinely wants to use iris scans for business or for fraudulent purposes, the official stance is against such activities.
Worldcoin Pending Issues
Former Ethereum Foundation member Hudson Jameson recently expressed skepticism about Worldcoin, pointing out geographical and fairness issues.
The current problems faced by Worldcoin are related to geographical issues. For poorer countries, in addition to the barriers of usage, technology, and knowledge, borrowing one's iris for immediate monetary gain seems like a more practical choice until Worldcoin tokens officially launch and rewards can be calculated.