OpenAI X Official Account Hacked Engages in Crypto Scam and Endorses Counterfeit Token
An official OpenAI X (formerly Twitter) account recently fell victim to hacking, resulting in the promotion of a fraudulent cryptocurrency scam. The scam falsely advertised the availability of an “OpenAI token,” which supposedly granted early access to upcoming beta programs. However, it should be noted that no such token exists.
As reported by Bloomberg, the scam post contained numerous errors and referred to the token as “$OPEANAI” instead of the correct “$OPENAI.” Furthermore, it directed users to a phishing website called “token-openai.com,” which aimed to steal individuals’ cryptocurrency wallet credentials. Although the post has since been removed, it managed to attract the attention of thousands of users before its deletion.
This hacking incident occurs in the midst of a growing number of cryptocurrency scams within the industry. Earlier this year, similar attacks targeted OpenAI employees, including Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever and CTO Mira Murati. Their accounts were briefly compromised, leading to the promotion of fake token schemes.
In response to the rise in account takeovers, OpenAI’s security team recently issued a memo to staff members, warning them about the issue and offering advice on enhancing security protocols. Despite these warnings, crypto scams continue to proliferate, with users frequently falling victim to phishing attacks that aim to steal their funds.
Cryptocurrency scams have become increasingly prevalent, resulting in significant financial losses for Americans nationwide. Scammers typically request cryptocurrency transfers, which are challenging to trace once sent, particularly when sent to countries that do not cooperate with U.S. law enforcement.
CertiK, a blockchain security firm, has reported substantial losses due to cryptocurrency scams in 2024, with billions of dollars globally falling victim to such schemes. Additionally, the FBI revealed that Americans alone lost $5.6 billion to crypto-related scams in 2023, and this figure is expected to rise in 2024.
As of now, OpenAI has not released an official statement regarding the recent breach of their account.