Decentraland’s Official X Account Compromised in Phishing Scam

Background

The official X account of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform, was hacked, with attackers promoting a fake MANA token airdrop.

On September 19, PeckShield alerted the public to the breach, urging users to avoid interacting with the account and advising against clicking attached links or engaging with its content.

Details of the Breach

PeckShield recommended that the crypto community wait for further updates from Decentraland’s social media channels to confirm the account’s security has been restored.

The attackers reportedly spread a phishing link disguised as an airdrop for the platform’s native MANA token to deceive followers.

The link allegedly directed users to a website where they were prompted to claim the airdrop by connecting their crypto wallets. However, once connected, the users’ funds were compromised, leaving them vulnerable to financial losses.

The phishing scam began early on September 19 at 01:50 a.m. UTC, tricking those who fell for it into thinking they were receiving a legitimate airdrop.

The offending post was pinned on Decentraland’s X account, ensuring that as many people as possible saw it. Furthermore, in a diabolical attempt to make the scam appear credible, the attackers turned off comments on the post, ironically claiming they had done so due to “malicious links.”

Solana Meme Coin Scam

This type of social media breach is part of a growing trend. Just a day earlier, on September 18, multiple high-profile X accounts were hacked, including those of brands and celebrities.

The bad actors used the hijacked accounts to promote a scam involving a Solana meme coin called HACKED.

Among the profiles targeted were Lenovo India, film director Oliver Stone, Yahoo News UK, and Brazilian soccer player Neymar Jr.

The hackers posted tweets advertising the dodgy coin, claiming, “INTRODUCING $HACKED ON SOLANA” and promising to publish the token address on each hacked account to “pump it and make profits together.”

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that the meme coin’s trading volume was minimal, with hackers likely only profiting around $8,000 from the operation despite the attack’s wide reach.

Dexscreener data revealed that HACKED generated just $279,000 in total trading volume and currently holds a market cap of only $2,600, following a 35% price drop in the hour before this writing.

ZachXBT mentioned that the exploiters likely spent between five and six figures on the operation, resulting in a financial loss.

He also advised users to check their X account settings regularly and revoke permissions for any connected apps they no longer use, as these apps may provide entry points for hackers.

Conclusion

The hacking incidents serve as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and the need for users to be vigilant when interacting with social media accounts, especially those related to cryptocurrency.

As the crypto community continues to grow, it is crucial to stay informed about emerging trends and threats to protect oneself from potential scams.

FAQs

Q: What happened to Decentraland’s X account?
A: The official X account of Decentraland was compromised, with attackers promoting a fake MANA token airdrop.

Q: What was the goal of the phishing scam?
A: The goal was to trick users into connecting their crypto wallets to a website and potentially losing their funds.

Q: How widespread was the Solana meme coin scam?
A: The scam affected multiple high-profile X accounts, including those of brands and celebrities.

Q: What is the current market capitalization of HACKED?
A: The current market capitalization of HACKED is $2,600, following a 35% price drop in the hour before this writing.

Q: What can users do to protect themselves from similar scams?
A: Users should regularly check their X account settings, revoke permissions for any connected apps they no longer use, and be cautious when interacting with social media accounts, especially those related to cryptocurrency.