Dusting attack

A dusting attack or dust attack is an attack on a cryptocurrency wallet that sends tiny amounts of cryptocurrency (known as "dust") to that wallet in order to uncover the identity of the wallet's owner.^[1] Information can then be used to obstruct receiving legitimate payments^[2] or phishing scams.^[1]

Victims are sent a token to their wallet via an airdrop.^[3] When the victim attempts to cash out the token, the sender is able to access the wallet through the smart contract attached to the token.^[4]