Cryptocurrency hackers have targeted the Supreme Court of India’s official YouTube channel, turning it into a platform to run a Ripple and XRP (XRPUSD) scam.
On September 20, the official channel, which boasts over 217,000 followers, was rebranded into a Ripple-themed page and used to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. The hackers ran a fake livestream video featuring Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse, encouraging viewers to invest in the scam with promises of unrealistic returns.
YouTube Shuts Down Hacked Account
The hackers not only renamed the channel and changed its URL, but they also deleted all the original videos from the account. Fortunately, YouTube acted swiftly, removing the compromised channel for violating Community Guidelines.
The scam livestream included phishing links, designed to trick users into connecting their crypto wallets. Once connected, the hackers gained complete access to the wallets, allowing them to steal funds without needing further authentication.
Rise of XRP Scams on YouTube
This incident is just one in a series of recent hacks aimed at running XRP scams. Back in April, YouTube assisted in stopping a similar scam involving the popular gaming channel DidYouKnowGaming. Like the Supreme Court channel, the hackers rebranded the account to promote a fraudulent Ripple investment opportunity.
YouTube successfully recovered DidYouKnowGaming’s account, restoring both the channel and its previously deleted content.
Increasing Threat of YouTube Crypto Scams
The hacking of YouTube accounts has become a growing trend, especially within the crypto space. In July, the YouTube channel of Ben&Ben, a popular nine-piece pop band with over three million followers, was hijacked to broadcast another XRP scam live stream.
The band’s team managed to recover the account after YouTube’s intervention.
