Official OpenAI X Account Hacked in Crypto Scam, Promotes Fake Token

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An official OpenAI X (formerly Twitter) account was recently hacked to push a fake cryptocurrency scam. The post falsely claimed that OpenAI users could claim an “OpenAI token,” offering them early access to future beta programs. However, no such token exists.

According to Bloomberg, the scam post, filled with errors, referred to the token as “$OPEANAI” instead of “$OPENAI” and linked to a phishing website “token-openai.com,” designed to steal users’ crypto wallet credentials. The post has since been deleted, but it managed to catch the attention of thousands of users before removal.

The hacking incident comes amid increasing 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, promoting fake token schemes.

In a recent memo, OpenAI’s security team warned staff about the rise in account takeovers and offered advice on improving security protocols. Despite these warnings, crypto scams continue to proliferate, with users falling victim to phishing attacks designed to steal funds.

Cryptocurrency scams are becoming increasingly common, with Americans losing billions nationwide. Scammers eventually request cryptocurrency transfers, which are hard to trace once sent, especially to countries that don’t cooperate with U.S. law enforcement.

According to blockchain security firm CertiK, cryptocurrency scams in 2024 have led to substantial losses, with billions of dollars lost to such schemes globally. The FBI reported that Americans alone lost $5.6 billion to crypto-related scams in 2023, with the figure likely to rise in 2024.

OpenAI has yet to issue an official statement on the latest account breach.