Drake’s X account Hacked, Promotes Solana memecoin ‘Anita’

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As a researcher with years of experience studying cybercrime trends in the cryptocurrency world, I find it disheartening but sadly unsurprising to see yet another high-profile figure like Drake targeted by hackers. The tactic of using a celebrity’s brand to promote fraudulent projects is as old as the internet itself, but it seems to have found a particularly fertile ground in the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrencies.

Last weekend, I found myself in an unusual situation as a researcher: Canadian rap sensation Drake’s verified account (previously known as Twitter) was hijacked, and the hackers exploited it to publicize a questionable Solana-based memecoin called “Anita.” This coin is a witty reference to his animated persona, Anita Max Wynn.

As a researcher, I’d rephrase it like this: In my findings, some unscrupulous individuals misled my 39 million followers of Drake by impersonating him and falsely announcing a token launch in collaboration with Stake, the cryptocurrency betting platform he has been affiliated with since 2022.

The counterfeit coin used a similar title as Drake’s upcoming Anita Max Wynn Tour in Australia and New Zealand, increasing the scam’s legitimacy by exploiting Drake’s reputation. Notably, “Anita Max Wynn” is a nod to the gambling term “max win.

The initial posts presented the contract address for the “ANITA” token along with a cartoon figure related to the project. However, these posts were later taken down.

An associated X account claiming to be the official project page was quickly suspended.

In a short span for growth, the memecoin managed around $5 million in transactions among traders, but once they apparently detected signs of deception, they stopped investing, as per data from DexScreener.

Drake, known for his endorsement of digital currencies and previously sharing a post about Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin remarks on Instagram, is currently under scrutiny due to accusations made by a social media influencer. The allegation claims that the influencer suffered a $2 million loss in a cryptocurrency investment deal involving Drake and another individual.

Manipulating social media profiles for shady digital ventures is a frequently used strategy among online swindlers in the realm of cryptocurrency. Notable personalities from the music industry who have experienced similar scams include Wiz Khalifa, Cardi B, Doja Cat, and Metallica.

Scammers try to make their fraudulent activities appear legitimate by focusing on well-known people and companies. They take advantage of the credibility and trust that these high-profile entities have with their audience.

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2024-12-15 07:48