ZachXBT Connects Social Media Hacks to $3.5M Celebrity Meme Coin Scam

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As a seasoned researcher with years of experience tracing the footsteps of cybercriminals, I find it both alarming and intriguing to see these connected operations targeting high-profile individuals and big brands. The sophistication of these pump-and-dump schemes linked to meme coins is a testament to the evolving landscape of cybercrime.

Notable investigator ZachXBT has discovered a series of cyber attacks aimed at well-known profiles on X and Instagram. These attacks, in turn, triggered a surge of “pump-and-dump” scams associated with meme coins introduced on Pump.fun.

Notable figures like singers Usher and Wiz Khalifa, actor Dean Norris, and even a popular Japanese aquarium were targets of these incidents.

Hacks Targeting Celebrities, Big Brands

In a comprehensive discussion on X, it was disclosed by ZachXBT that instances of social media account takeovers (ATOs) began in August 2024. Each occurrence shared a common sequence: first, accounts were hacked, followed by the promotion of false tokens; lastly, the earnings from these token sales were transferred to untraceable digital wallets.

In many instances ZachXBT found, the attacks appeared linked. The earnings from one operation seemed to be channeled towards launching and manipulating another fraudulent meme token, which was then promoted on a hacked or compromised social media platform.

In simpler terms, McDonald’s, a well-known fast food chain, became one of the early victims when its Instagram account was hacked and used to advertise the GRIMACE token. This hacking operation managed to generate around $690,000 for the hackers, who then consolidated this money into two digital wallets.

Shortly thereafter, the culprits gained unauthorized access to Dean Norris’s X account and exploited it to propagate SCHRADER. This digital currency, a wink to popular culture, took its name from a character portrayed by the actor in the highly acclaimed TV series “Breaking Bad.

Connected Operations

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Usher’s account was exploited to promote the USHER cryptocurrency. It’s notable that the exact amount of 110 SOL was employed to quickly purchase this coin, and these funds appear to have originated from the same address which previously received money obtained through a cyberattack on McDonald’s.

The money made from the USHER scam, about 4868 SOL, was then deposited into a wallet that was later connected to subsequent attacks on the Enoshima Aquarium and Truth Terminal creator Andy Ayrey’s social accounts.

The assault on Ayrey’s account was exceptionally bold: The perpetrators relentlessly advertised six distinct meme coins over multiple days, such as RNA, TRUTH, INFINITY, and WOAH. It is said they amassed over $2.1 million from these tokens and channeled approximately $750,000 of their earnings into a casino account.

The most recent occurrence occurred on November 3: Wiz Khalifa’s X account was hacked and subsequently employed to advertise two meme coins, WIZ and WIZZLE. ZachXBT traced the Wiz Khalifa’s Authorized Transaction Onward (ATO) to the Ayrey incident and another scam, where the Instagram account of the proprietor of Kabosu, a well-known Shiba Inu that influenced Dogecoin branding, was hijacked and exploited to push the fraudulent KAI token.

As a concerned crypto investor, I can’t help but share the news that allegedly, at least $3.5 million was lost by unsuspecting investors in recent events. Social media platforms are grappling with managing the fallout. However, there’s some hope on the horizon as ZachXBT has promised to disclose the identities of those responsible for these compromises later today. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for transparency and justice.

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2024-11-28 07:16