On July 15, a coordinated cyberattack targeted several prominent Filipino musicians, leading to the compromise of their YouTube accounts. These accounts were manipulated to promote a deceptive XRP cryptocurrency scam, misleading viewers with a deepfake video featuring Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.
Affected Artists and Their Response
The following notable Filipino music artists and groups were impacted by this hacking incident:
- Ben&Ben: This nine-piece pop band, boasting over 3 million YouTube followers, experienced significant disruption. They quickly acknowledged the breach on their official Facebook page, informing fans that they were actively working to regain control of their account. Despite their efforts, scam-related content continued to stream temporarily.
- SB19: The Filipino boyband, with a following of 3.6 million on YouTube, also faced a similar fate. Their management acted swiftly to recover the account and promptly reported the incident to the authorities.
- Rico Blanco: With over 700,000 followers, musician Rico Blanco’s account was also reported as compromised. While there has been no official statement from Blanco, users on Reddit have flagged the breach.
Nature of the Scam
The scammers used a sophisticated deepfake video of Ripple’s CEO, falsely predicting that XRP would reach a value of $4. Such fraudulent schemes often lure victims to phishing sites where they are deceived into giving away access to their financial assets.
This isn’t the first time scammers have utilized deepfake technology of Garlinghouse to perpetrate fraud. In December 2023, similar tactics were employed, where scammers asked XRP holders to send their coins to a specific address, promising to return double the amount—a classic cryptocurrency scam.
Community and Platform Response
The crypto community on platforms like Reddit has been vigilant, flagging these fraudulent activities since their inception. Reports were made to Google, which oversees YouTube, highlighting the ongoing issue and the need for more robust security measures.
| Artist/Band | Followers | Response to Hack | Current Account Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben&Ben | 3 million+ | Announced on Facebook, recovery ongoing | Partial recovery, scam streams stopped |
| SB19 | 3.6 million+ | Quickly recovered, reported to authorities | Account recovered |
| Rico Blanco | 700,000+ | No official statement, flagged by community | Account currently blocked |
The repeated occurrence of such scams underscores the vulnerability of high-profile social media accounts to cyber threats. It emphasizes the importance of:
- Enhanced Security Measures: Artists and their management teams must invest in stronger security protocols and training to prevent such breaches.
- Prompt Response: Quick action is crucial in mitigating the effects of such attacks and preventing further damage.
- Community Vigilance: The role of the community in identifying and reporting suspicious activities cannot be overstated.
The recent hacking of Filipino musicians’ YouTube accounts to promote an XRP scam is a stark reminder of the persistent threats in the digital space. It calls for heightened security practices, better user education on the nature of crypto scams, and a collective effort from platforms, users, and authorities to combat such deceptive practices effectively.
