As the popularity of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) soared in 2022, hackers seized opportunities to target celebrities, resulting in several high-profile NFT heists. Here’s a rundown of notable incidents:
Seth Green:
In May, actor Seth Green, famed for his role in Austin Powers, fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam. The real-time drama unfolded on Green’s Twitter feed as he lost multiple digital assets, including NFTs and crypto. The stolen assets were subsequently resold by the fraudsters. In a unique move, Green publicly pleaded with the perpetrator, known as Mr. Cheese, through his Twitter account.
Jay Chou:
Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou, known for his role in “The Green Hornet,” became a target of a phishing scam during April Fools’ Day. Stolen in the hoax were Chou’s Bored Ape piece and multiple other NFTs, including X-Men and the Mutantape Yacht Club group. The stolen NFTs found their way to the blockchain marketplace Rare, fetching around AU$ 350,000. Notably, the stolen Bored Ape was gifted to Chou by Jeffrey Hwang Licheng but was eventually recovered.
Steven Galanis:
In August 2022, Steven Galanis, CEO and co-founder of Cameo, a platform for celebrity video messages, faced a security breach. Bad actors hacked Galanis’ Apple ID, leading to the loss of significant NFTs, including a prized Bored Ape purchased for around AU$ 227,000 in January 2022.
Melania Trump:
Former US first lady Melania Trump ventured into the NFT space in January 2022 with the Head of State Collection. The NFT auction fetched approximately $170,000, with the payment made in Solana. The transaction raised questions as investigators traced the winning bid back to the auction creator. While Melania Trump’s office claimed the bid came from a third party, it raised concerns about wash trading, a practice not prohibited for NFTs as they operate outside conventional financial regulations.
These incidents underscore the growing risks associated with the increasing popularity of NFTs, prompting heightened security measures for individuals navigating the crypto and blockchain landscape.
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