Crypto Scammers Hack into OpenAI’s Press Account on X
A Familiar Pattern Emerges
In a worrying trend that continues to plague the tech industry, OpenAI’s official press account on X has been compromised by cryptocurrency scammers. This incident is not an isolated one; rather, it is the latest in a series of similar hacks targeting high-profile accounts associated with the company.
The Phishing Post
On Monday afternoon, OpenAI Newsroom, an account created to share product- and policy-related announcements, posted about a supposed new OpenAI-branded blockchain token, ‘$OPENAI’. The post read: "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."
A Red Flag
Of course, $OPENAI doesn’t exist — and the post on X linked to a phishing site designed to mimic the legitimate OpenAI website (minus the conspicuously incorrect URL ‘token-openai.com’). A prominent ‘CLAIM $OPENAI’ button on the fake site encouraged unsuspecting users to connect their cryptocurrency wallets, likely in an attempt to steal those users’ login credentials.
The Hack is Still Active
As of publication time, both the post and site were still up — as was a repost and a reply promising ‘further information’ about the token ‘[to] come later in the week.’ Comments on the malicious X post were disabled, making the hack less obvious than it might be otherwise.
A Pattern of Compromise
This is not the first time accounts associated with OpenAI have been compromised as part of phishing campaigns. In June 2023, OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s account posted a similar message promoting the fictional $OPENAI crypto token. And 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.
The Scam Site
Coinspeaker reported on the hack of Murati’s account last June, stating that the scammers used 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.
A Worrying Trend
OpenAI is not alone in its struggles with phishing. 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.
A Growing Concern
Americans lost $5.6 billion to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, a 45% increase from 2022, according to the FBI. And 2024 is on track to be 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’s Response
We’ve reached out to OpenAI and X for comment and will update this article if we hear back.
A Lack of Security Measures
The repeated hacks targeting OpenAI’s accounts raise serious concerns about the company’s security measures. With a growing reliance on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, it is imperative that companies prioritize the security of their users’ data.
A Growing Problem in the Tech Industry
Phishing scams are becoming increasingly common in the tech industry. As more high-profile hacks come to light, it becomes clear that there is a need for greater awareness and education about these types of scams.
The Importance of User Education
Users must be educated on how to identify and avoid phishing scams. This includes being cautious when clicking on links or providing sensitive information online.
The compromise of OpenAI’s official X account by cryptocurrency scammers is a worrying trend that continues to plague the tech industry. As companies become increasingly reliant on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, it is imperative that they prioritize the security of their users’ data. By being aware of these types of scams and taking steps to educate users, we can work towards creating a safer online environment.
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