Hackers compromised OpenAI’s official press account on X, a platform used for product and policy announcements.
The attackers posted a fake announcement about a new OpenAI-branded blockchain token, “$OPENAI,” and linked it to a phishing site designed to steal users’ login credentials.
The post claims that all OpenAI users were eligible to claim a piece of the token’s initial supply and that holding the token would grant access to future beta programs.
However, the token does not exist, and the site was a clear attempt to phish unsuspecting users, reads TechCrunch report.
This is not the first time OpenAI-associated accounts have been compromised. In June 2023, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s account was hacked, and a similar message was posted promoting the fictional $OPENAI crypto token.
Just three months ago, the accounts of OpenAI chief scientist Jakub Pachocki and OpenAI researcher Jason Wei were also hacked and used to publish scam posts.
The hack is part of a larger trend of cryptocurrency scams targeting high-profile X accounts. In 2020, hackers targeted Apple, Elon Musk, and Joe Biden accounts to post a Bitcoin wallet address with a false promise to double and return any payments made.
According to the FBI, Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022.
The Federal Trade Commission reported that over 50,000 scams were reported in the first half of 2024, costing consumers close to $2.5 billion.
OpenAI and X have been contacted for comment, but no response has been received as of publication.
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