Warning: This story is not fiction. Names changed, but the facts are real.
Backstory: “Just in Case”
My name is Alex. In 2023, I first bought Bitcoin and Ethereum. I decided not to take risks — created a wallet in Trust Wallet, wrote down the seed phrase on paper, and hid it in a safe.
But then I thought: “What if I lose the paper? I’ll take a photo — just in case.”
I took the photo. Saved it in the gallery. Forgot about it.
Mistake #1: Sync with Google Photos
My phone (Android) was linked to my Google account. Auto-upload to the cloud was enabled.
A week later, I didn’t even remember the photo. But it was already in the cloud, accessible from any device I logged into.
Mistake #2: Weak Account Protection
My Google account was protected only by a password and SMS verification. 2FA via app? “Too complicated.”
In September 2025, I received an SMS: “Google login code: 482901”. I thought it was a glitch and ignored it.
Three hours later — another one. Then silence.
What Happened Next
The hacker used a SIM-swap: spoofed my number, intercepted SMS, gained access to Google.
Opened Google Photos → found the seed phrase photo → restored the wallet → transferred $52,300 in USDT to an anonymous address.
I found out 6 hours later — got a notification from Trust Wallet: “Wallet restored on a new device.”
$52,300
lost in 11 minutes
0%
chance of recovery
1 photo
cause of theft
How I Could Have Avoided This
- Disable auto-upload in Google Photos / iCloud
- Use 2FA via app (Google Authenticator, Authy)
- Store seed phrase only offline: paper, metal — never digital
- Check if the phrase is in the cloud (search photos)
- Use a hardware wallet — seed never leaves the device
Conclusion
I thought: “This won’t happen to me.” It did.
A seed phrase isn’t just words. It’s your private key. One screenshot — and everything is gone forever.
It’s free. Takes 30 seconds. Could save your money.