Highlights:
- Kylian Mbappé’s Twitter was hacked to promote a fraudulent $MBAPPE token, spreading concern over digital security.
- An investor lost $1.03 million in minutes on the $MBAPPE scam, highlighting the extreme volatility of meme cryptocurrencies.
- Following identity theft, Mbappé takes legal action, emphasizing the need for enhanced cybersecurity and regulatory oversight in crypto.
French football star Kylian Mbappé’s Twitter (now X) account was hacked on Thursday morning. The unauthorized access promoted a fake cryptocurrency token named $MBAPPE. This event has raised concerns about cybersecurity in the digital world, especially regarding high-profile individuals.
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French football star Kylian Mbappe's Twitter account was hacked and released the token MBAPPE, which has now been deleted. The market value of MBAPPE tokens surged to tens of millions in a few minutes and then quickly returned to zero. A user bought 2 SOL (about $286) and sold it…
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) August 29, 2024
Hackers Use Mbappé’s Account to Push Fake Crypto
The hacker responsible for breaching Mbappé’s account posted several tweets, including statements such as “Manchester is red” and “The greatest football player of all time, named Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi is NOT my goat.” The tweets appeared suspicious to many users, leading to speculation about the account being compromised.
The hacker also used the compromised account to promote the $MBAPPE token created through Pump. Fun, a Solana-based memecoin deployer. This platform has gained popularity for its ease of use, allowing users to create and launch meme coins with minimal effort. The $MBAPPE token experienced a rapid surge in value, attracting unsuspecting investors before its value plummeted to zero.
Sharp Loss and Gain from $MBAPPE Token Scam
One cryptocurrency investor suffered a significant financial loss due to the $MBAPPE token scam. According to the analytics firm Lookonchain, the investor created a new wallet and invested 7,156 $SOL (worth approximately $1.03 million) into the $MBAPPE token. Within minutes, the investment’s value dropped to just $9.2K, resulting in a staggering loss.
Someone created a new wallet and spent 7,156 $SOL($1.03M) to buy a #MEMEcoin named $MBAPPE in a single transaction, which is now only worth $9.2K.
This person lost more than $1M in just 1 hour!😱https://t.co/IKsUN14km1 pic.twitter.com/kTF6SQCKT4
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) August 29, 2024
While most investors saw their funds vanish, one individual profited. This user turned an initial investment of $286 SOL tokens into $200,000. The incident highlights meme coins’ volatile and risky nature and the potential for significant gains and catastrophic losses.
Kylian Mbappé Responds Legally to Identity Misuse
Following the hack and the unauthorized use of his identity, Kylian Mbappé has taken legal action. The incident underscores the growing need for stronger cybersecurity measures, particularly for public figures whose social media accounts are prime targets for cybercriminals.
The Financial Markets Authority of France has reported over 1,100 similar scam complaints, with victims losing 55.5 million euros. This incident adds to the growing list of online scams, prompting calls for increased regulatory oversight of cryptocurrency.
The hack of Kylian Mbappé’s Twitter account and the promotion of the $MBAPPE token sharply remind us of digital platforms’ risks and the need for vigilance.
Celebrity Crypto Scams on the Rise
A month ago, crypto2community reported that Sydney Sweeney’s X account was hacked, leading to unauthorized posts promoting a Solana-based cryptocurrency called SWEENEY. These posts announced the token’s launch, quickly generating over $10 million in trading volume on July 2.
This group also claimed responsibility for hacking the accounts of other celebrities, such as 50 Cent and Hulk Hogan, using them to promote similar scams. As celebrities increasingly endorse cryptocurrencies, the frequency and risk of related scams are also escalating.
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