Cybercriminals are exploiting the recent assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump to trick victims into a cryptocurrency scam. Bitdefender Labs has uncovered that scammers are using hijacked YouTube channels to broadcast deepfake videos of Tesla CEO Elon Musk. These fake videos claim to offer insights into the Trump attack and encourage viewers to participate in a cryptocurrency doubling scheme.
The fraudulent scheme involves hijacking popular YouTube channels, which are then renamed to include references to Tesla and Trump. The channels, some with millions of subscribers, now feature deepfake videos of Musk promoting a cryptocurrency giveaway. Viewers are instructed to scan a QR code in the video, which leads to fake websites mimicking legitimate Tesla domains or sites associated with Trump.
The scammers have gone as far as creating misleading descriptions for these hijacked channels, suggesting that Musk will contribute substantial funds to Trump’s presidential campaign. Bitdefender’s report highlights five malicious domains linked to this campaign, which their systems have successfully blocked to prevent phishing and fraud.
To avoid falling victim to these scams, users should be wary of suspicious videos and click-bait titles related to Tesla or Trump. It’s essential to avoid scanning QR codes in such videos and to scrutinize YouTube channels for unusual activity. Employing robust security measures and reporting any suspicious activity to authorities can help protect against these deceptive tactics.
