Crypto Scammers Hijack OpenAI’s X Account to Promote Fake Blockchain Token

OpenAI's press account on the X platform (formerly Twitter) was compromised recently, with hackers launching a cryptocurrency scam through the account, echoing previous attacks targeting OpenAI executives in recent months.

Late Monday, the "OpenAI Newsroom" account, which OpenAI had recently set up for sharing updates on products and policies, was hacked to promote a phony blockchain token called "$OPENAI." The fraudulent post made bold claims, announcing, “We’re thrilled to introduce $OPEANAI [sic]: the bridge between AI and blockchain technology. All OpenAI users can now claim a portion of $OPENAI’s initial supply. By holding $OPENAI, you will have exclusive access to all our upcoming beta programs.”

The catch? There is no such thing as the $OPENAI token. The scammers embedded a link in the post that redirected users to a phishing website disguised as OpenAI’s official page, but with a misleading URL—“token-openai.com.” The fake site encouraged visitors to "CLAIM $OPENAI," urging them to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, likely intending to steal user credentials and digital assets.

By the time this article was written, both the misleading post and the fraudulent website remained active, along with a repost and follow-up comment promising more details about the fake token “later in the week.” Additionally, the scammers had disabled comments on their post, making the hack less obvious and harder for others to warn potential victims.

OpenAI and X have been contacted for further clarification on this incident, and this report will be updated if more information is provided.

Open AI's @OpenAINewsroom hacked⚠️

Hackers promoted a fake crypto token named "OPENAI" with a malicious link attached to redirect the users.

This is the fourth OpenAI related hack on X since 2023.

Sounds like a job alert for cybersecurity experts????#OpenAI #cryptocurrency pic.twitter.com/gYTkYfiD08 — Gagan Deep Singh (@0xGagan) September 24, 2024

Not the First Time OpenAI Has Been Targeted

This hacking incident is part of an ongoing pattern of phishing attacks targeting OpenAI. In June 2023, OpenAI's CTO Mira Murati experienced a similar breach, where her X account posted a scam about the non-existent $OPENAI token. More recently, the accounts of OpenAI’s chief scientist Jakub Pachocki and researcher Jason Wei were also compromised, spreading the same fraudulent message found on the OpenAI Newsroom account today.

As reported by Coinspeaker, when Murati's account was hacked, the cybercriminals used a “crypto drainer” tool. This malicious software was designed to siphon all the NFTs and tokens from the victims' wallets as soon as they connected with the fake OpenAI website.

Widespread Crypto Scams on X: A Growing Problem

Unfortunately, this isn’t an isolated issue. Numerous well-known X accounts belonging to tech companies and public figures have been exploited to promote cryptocurrency scams over recent years. One of the most infamous attacks happened in 2020, when hackers gained control of accounts belonging to Apple, Elon Musk, and Joe Biden. They posted a Bitcoin wallet address, claiming any payments made to it would be doubled and returned, leading many to fall prey to the scheme.

Crypto Fraud Losses Continue to Surge

According to recent FBI data, cryptocurrency scams led to a staggering $5.6 billion in losses for Americans in 2023, which reflects a sharp 45% increase compared to 2022. This year seems to be on a similar, if not worse, trajectory, with more than 50,000 scams already reported in the first half of 2024 alone, costing consumers almost $2.5 billion, as per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

As these fraudulent activities continue to evolve, it's crucial for crypto enthusiasts and the general public to remain cautious and skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, especially from compromised or unofficial sources.

iShook Finance Expert Advise: This latest breach underscores the growing threat of crypto-related scams on social platforms. It's a strong reminder for users to double-check any cryptocurrency-related announcements and be wary of unfamiliar websites before connecting wallets. The risks of falling victim to these scams are high, and only a vigilant approach can safeguard one's digital assets.

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