An official OpenAI account on X, @OpenAINewsroom, was compromised on Monday evening and used to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency called $OPENAI. This account, which shares updates and news from OpenAI, has nearly 54,000 followers and became a vehicle for disseminating misleading information about the cryptocurrency. At around 6:24 PM ET, the now-deleted post announced the token’s launch, claiming it would bridge the gap between artificial intelligence and blockchain technology. The post further enticed users by stating that holding $OPENAI would grant access to future beta programs.
The fraudulent announcement included a link to a counterfeit website that mimicked OpenAI’s official platform, prompting users to connect their cryptocurrency wallets to claim a share of the initial supply. This could have led to significant financial losses for unsuspecting users who engaged with the malicious site. The rapid dissemination of the scam sparked immediate alarm within the X community, as users quickly pointed out that this was the fourth OpenAI-related account to be hacked in just 15 months, underscoring a troubling trend of increasing attacks on OpenAI’s digital presence.
In the aftermath of the breach, both OpenAI and X have yet to issue an official response, leaving many followers in the dark about the situation. The lack of communication from the compromised account further complicates the matter, as users may not realize they are interacting with a hacked profile. This incident is part of a broader surge in cryptocurrency-related scams, as noted in the FBI’s recent Cryptocurrency Fraud Report, which highlighted over 69,000 complaints in 2023, resulting in losses exceeding $5.6 billion.
As cryptocurrency scams continue to proliferate, users are urged to exercise extreme caution when engaging with any offers that appear on social media. Recommendations for protection include verifying the legitimacy of accounts, avoiding unsolicited links, conducting thorough research before investing, and using official channels for information. Awareness of common signs of scams is crucial, especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape where criminals increasingly exploit unsuspecting victims.
