Crypto scammers target OpenAI's press account on X, exposing sensitive information

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The Same Scammers Behind Previous OpenAI Hacks

In a concerning development, OpenAI’s official press account on X appears to have been compromised by the same cryptocurrency scammers who targeted company leadership in previous months. The scammers’ modus operandi is identical to their earlier hacks, with the malicious post promoting a supposedly new OpenAI-branded blockchain token, ‘$OPENAI.’

The Malicious Post and Website

Late Monday afternoon, the OpenAI Newsroom account posted about the fictional $OPENAI token, stating: "We’re very happy to announce $OPEANAI [sic]: the gap between Al and blockchain technology. All OpenAI users are eligible to claim a piece of $OPENAI’s initial supply. Holding $OPENAI will grant access to all of our future beta programs."

However, as revealed by the link in the post, the token doesn’t exist – and the website is actually a phishing site designed to mimic the legitimate OpenAI website. A prominent ‘CLAIM $OPENAI’ button on the fake site encourages unsuspecting users to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, likely attempting to steal those users’ login credentials.

Previous Hacks by the Same Scammers

This hack isn’t an isolated incident; it’s part of a larger pattern of phishing campaigns targeting OpenAI accounts. In June 2023, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s account posted a similar message promoting the fictional $OPENAI crypto token. Just three months ago, the accounts of OpenAI chief scientist Jakub Pachocki and OpenAI researcher Jason Wei were hacked and used to publish scam posts identical to the post on the OpenAI Newsroom account today.

Crypto Drainer Tool Used by Scammers

According to Coinspeaker’s report on Murati’s hack last June, the scammers utilized a ‘crypto drainer’ tool that would funnel all the NFTs and tokens that victims had in their wallets to the scammers’ wallet once they signed into the fake OpenAI site.

High-Profile X Accounts Hacked for Crypto Scams

This isn’t an isolated incident; other high-profile X accounts belonging to tech companies and celebrities have been hacked in recent years to promote crypto scams. In perhaps the most infamous example, in 2020, hackers targeted accounts belonging to Apple, Elon Musk, and Joe Biden to post the address of a bitcoin wallet with the claim that the amount of any payments made to the address would be doubled and sent back.

Cryptocurrency Scams on the Rise

The statistics are alarming: Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, according to the FBI. And 2024 is shaping up to be just as bad – or worse. More than 50,000 scams were reported through the first half of this year, costing consumers close to $2.5 billion, per the Federal Trade Commission.

OpenAI and X Comment

We’ve reached out to OpenAI and X for comment and will update this article if we hear back.

Conclusion

The compromise of OpenAI’s official X account by cryptocurrency scammers is a concerning development that highlights the ongoing threat of phishing campaigns targeting tech companies. As the stakes continue to rise, it’s essential for companies like OpenAI to prioritize security and protect their users from these malicious attempts.

Recommendations

Companies should implement robust security measures to prevent such hacks.
Users should be cautious when engaging with cryptocurrency-related promotions or links on social media platforms like X.
Regulatory bodies should take a closer look at the crypto industry’s lack of regulation and work towards implementing stricter guidelines.

Timeline of Hacks

June 2023: OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s account was hacked, promoting the fictional $OPENAI crypto token.
September 2024: The accounts of OpenAI chief scientist Jakub Pachocki and OpenAI researcher Jason Wei were hacked and used to publish scam posts identical to the post on the OpenAI Newsroom account today.

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Crypto scammers target OpenAI’s press account on X, exposing sensitive information