On Monday evening, hackers took control of the official @OpenAINewsroom account on X (formerly Twitter) to promote a cryptocurrency scam. Around 7:00 PM ET, the account, which typically shares updates with nearly 54,000 followers, tweeted about an “$OPENAI” token before the post was deleted.
The fraudulent tweet claimed, “We’re very happy to announce $OPENAI: the token bridging the gap between AI 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.” The tweet included a link to a fake OpenAI website.
Security Concerns and Previous Incidents
Before the breach, a member of OpenAI’s security team had issued an internal memo warning employees about a rise in account takeovers targeting staff. The memo, reported by Bloomberg, included tips on enhancing account security.
OpenAI’s accounts have been targeted by crypto scams in the past. Just a day before the @OpenAINewsroom incident, OpenAI researcher Jason Wei’s account was also compromised to promote a fake $OPENAI token. Additionally, both Jakub Pachocki, OpenAI’s Chief Scientist, and Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer, experienced brief account takeovers.
Rising Crypto Scams and Industry Losses
The cryptocurrency scam landscape has intensified, with losses amounting to $310 million in August alone, marking it as the second-highest monthly loss in 2024. According to blockchain security firm CertiK, only $10.3 million was recovered or returned, resulting in a net loss of $300.6 million.
The most significant breach this year occurred on July 18, affecting the Indian exchange WazirX, which suffered over $230 million in losses—representing 86.4% of that month’s total. Investigations suggest North Korean cybercriminals may be behind the attack, although this has not been officially confirmed.