The official OpenAI account on the social network X (formerly Twitter) was recently hacked to promote a fake cryptocurrency scam. The post falsely claimed that OpenAI users could claim an 'OpenAI token,' but no such token exists.
Details of the Hack
According to Bloomberg, the post was flawed, referring to the token as '$OPEANAI' instead of '$OPENAI.' It linked to a phishing website 'token-openai.com,' designed to steal users' crypto wallet credentials. The post has since been deleted but managed to attract the attention of thousands of users.
Background and Context
The hack occurred amid a rise in cryptocurrency scams across the industry. Earlier in 2024, similar attacks targeted OpenAI employees, including Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati. Their accounts were also briefly compromised to promote fake token schemes.
Impact on the Industry
A recent memo from OpenAI's security team warned staff about the increase in account takeovers and provided advice on enhancing security protocols. Despite these warnings, crypto scams continue to proliferate, with users frequently falling victim to phishing attacks designed to steal funds. Blockchain security firm CertiK reports that cryptocurrency scams caused significant losses in 2024, while Americans alone lost $5.6 billion to such scams in 2023.
OpenAI has yet to release an official statement on the latest account breach.
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