Google Gemini Cited in TRON-Based Crypto Scam Investigation

A fraud investigation into a TRON-based rental scam has implicated Google’s Gemini chatbot 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. The platform promised to cut transaction costs but instead defrauded users after they connected their wallets.

The domain Tronify.rent was registered on 25 November 2025, and threat intelligence platform PhishDestroy had flagged the site as early as February 2026, assigning it a threat score of 90 out of 100. JP, the founder of IOC Investigations, identified 12 TRON wallet addresses linked to the operation.

One victim reported asking Google’s Gemini chatbot whether Tronify.rent was legitimate before depositing funds. The victim stated that Gemini described the site as appearing safe, a response treated as due diligence. JP noted that relying on AI chatbots for financial safety assessments represents a growing risk in crypto fraud cases. Google’s documentation warns that Gemini “may display inaccurate info, including about people, so double-check its responses.”

The case highlights a gap in how consumers interact with large language models. While chatbots are not financial advisors or security scanners, users increasingly treat their outputs as authoritative. This raises liability questions that neither AI companies nor regulators have fully addressed. Investigators are tracing the funds through TRON’s network, which has mechanisms for freezing illicit assets through the T3 Financial Crime Unit.