Hackers and scammers targeting the crypto industry have increasingly turned their attention to major social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube. Recently, the YouTube channel of the Supreme Court of India was hacked, showcasing the growing threat to high-profile accounts.
The hackers used the platform to promote XRP through a fake investment livestream, attempting to deceive viewers into making crypto investments. This incident highlights the vulnerabilities present on social media platforms, which are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals looking to exploit large audiences.
The Supreme Court of India’s YouTube channel, with over 217,000 followers, was compromised on September 20. After gaining control, the hackers transformed the channel into a promotional tool for Ripple-related scams, primarily centered around XRP.
They deleted all previous content and rebranded the channel to conceal its original identity. The scammers then broadcasted a fake livestream featuring Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple Labs, promoting unrealistic investment opportunities designed to lure viewers into making hasty investment decisions.
A key component of the scam was the inclusion of phishing links in the livestream, which urged users to connect their crypto wallets. By doing so, the hackers could gain access to their funds and steal them.
Crypto Scammers Hack Supreme Court of India’s YouTube Channel in Latest Wave of Social Media Attacks
Fortunately, YouTube identified the malicious activity and took swift action by removing the channel for violating community guidelines, preventing further harm to potential victims. This quick response highlights the ongoing challenge of keeping social media platforms secure in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks.
The hacking of the Supreme Court’s YouTube channel is not an isolated incident. In April, a popular gaming YouTube channel, DidYouKnowGaming, was similarly breached by hackers who deleted content and rebranded it for crypto scams.
Although YouTube eventually restored the account and its content, the incident underscores the persistent threat to prominent social media accounts. In July, another XRP-related scam targeted the YouTube account of Ben&Ben, a band with over three million followers, further demonstrating how widespread these attacks have become.
Hackers have also expanded their activities to X accounts. One prominent case involved the Decentraland X account, where scammers posted phishing links and fake airdrops for the MANA token, urging users to connect their wallets.
This surge in hacking and phishing scams across platforms serves as a stark reminder for crypto users to exercise caution when encountering investment opportunities that promise quick and excessive returns. It is essential to stay alert and avoid falling victim to these increasingly sophisticated scams.
