Hackers stole $2 million from OKX client using Telegram and deepfake video

A user of the OKX cryptocurrency exchange under the nickname “来日方长” (The Future is Long) reported a breach in the company’s security system. He claims that hackers gained access to his account through a deepfake video, writes WuBlock.

According to available information, unknown persons bought personal data of a user in one of the Telegram messenger groups. Using this information, they gained access to his email.

Next, the attackers created a fake video of the owner of the OKX account and used it to change the phone number, email address, and Google Authenticator settings. Within 24 hours, hackers gained full access to the victim’s accounts and emptied them.

A victim of a fraudulent scheme called on cryptocurrency exchanges to pay attention to a new type of online scam. In his opinion, companies should quickly develop measures aimed at stopping this kind of hacking.

Representatives of the OKX exchange stated that they were concerned about the situation in which “the accounts of the platform’s clients were stolen.” The company is providing assistance to the user, and his case is at the stage of legal proceedings.

This incident is not the first time deepfake technology has been used to steal funds. In February 2024, British engineering firm Arup lost $25 million due to deepfake scams during a video conference.

Moreover, back in 2022, unknown people created a fake video with the image of Sam Bankman-Fried. In this video, the co-founder of the FTX exchange urged investors not to panic and to participate in an airdrop that would “double their balance.”