• Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary’s Twitter account was hacked on Thursday and used to promote a crypto giveaway scam.
• The tweet provided a link that instructed respondents to first send their own digital assets to verify their wallet addresses, to receive the giveaway prizes.
• Crypto giveaway scams are one of the most prevalent forms of scams in the industry, often impersonating well-known figures like Elon Musk, Michael Saylor, and CZ.
On Thursday, December 29, 2022, Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary’s Twitter account was hacked and used to promote a crypto giveaway scam. The now-deleted tweet claimed that everyone who wanted to get free crypto now had a chance, and provided a link that instructed respondents to first send their own digital assets to verify their wallet addresses, to receive the giveaway prizes. The fraudsters falsely claimed that Mr. Wonderful had said on CNBC that he planned to give away some cryptocurrencies.
Crypto giveaway scams are one of the most prevalent forms of scams in the industry, often impersonating well-known figures like Elon Musk, Michael Saylor, and CZ in order to promote their fraudulent schemes using fake accounts. These scams involve hacked accounts of famous people, politicians, celebrities, and companies with the aim of having people send their digital assets to verify their wallet addresses, with no intention of actually sending out any giveaway prizes.
These scams have become increasingly common, as hackers have become more sophisticated and have targeted high-profile accounts with large followings in order to increase the reach of their fraudulent schemes. As such, it is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with crypto giveaway scams and to make sure to not engage with any suspicious activity that may be happening on social media. It is also essential to double-check the authenticity of any giveaway offers before providing any personal or financial information.