Have you ever come across a post from a trusted source only to discover it was a scam? That’s exactly what happened recently. OpenAI’s official press account on X (formerly Twitter) was hacked by cryptocurrency scammers. On Monday, the compromised account, known as OpenAI Newsroom, shared a post promoting a fake blockchain token called “$OPENAI.” It’s an important reminder of how easily even reputable accounts can be hijacked.
The post claimed, “We’re very happy to announce $OPEANAI [sic]: the gap between AI and blockchain technology.” It went on to say that all OpenAI users were eligible to claim a piece of the $OPENAI token, which supposedly would provide access to future beta programs. However, the token does not exist, and the post included a link to a phishing website mimicking OpenAI’s legitimate site with the incorrect URL “token-openai.com.”
TechCrunch was among the first to spot the post. However, the post is now deleted. A button on the fake site urged users to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, most likely with the aim of stealing their credentials.
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The scam post also disabled comments, which made the hack less obvious at first glance. Even after the initial post, a follow-up reply promised more information about the non-existent token would be shared later in the week.
This isn’t the first time OpenAI-associated accounts have been targeted. In June 2023, the account of OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati was hacked, promoting the same fake $OPENAI token. Similar attacks occurred just months ago on accounts belonging to OpenAI chief scientist Jakub Pachocki and researcher Jason Wei.
The scammers behind these attacks often use a “crypto drainer” tool, as reported by Coinspeaker during Murati’s account hack. Once victims sign into the fake site, their NFTs and cryptocurrencies get drained into the scammers’ wallets.
These types of crypto scams are unfortunately becoming more common. High-profile tech accounts, like those of Apple and Elon Musk, were also hacked in 2020 to promote similar schemes. According to the FBI, Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% rise from 2022. As of mid-2024, nearly $2.5 billion has already been lost to scams, making it clear that the trend isn’t slowing down.
