- American heavy metal band Metallica, renowned for its 121 million album sales, has recently encountered cryptocurrency scammers.
- The band’s official X account was hijacked to push a counterfeit Solana-based meme coin using the ticker METAL.
- The scam promoted the token as a partnership initiative with Ticketmaster, adding offers such as merchandise purchases and staking rewards.
Metallica’s X Account Compromised by Cryptocurrency Scammers in Latest Cyber Heist
Metallica’s Official Account Promotes Fake Solana Token
In an alarming breach, Metallica’s verified X account was taken over by malicious actors to advertise a fraudulent Solana-based meme coin, METAL. The impostors falsely claimed a partnership with Ticketmaster, promising fans the ability to use the token for purchasing official merchandise and gifts both at events and online. This latest incident marks a growing trend of cybercriminals exploiting high-profile accounts to promote dodgy cryptocurrency schemes.
Impact on Fans and Gigs: Merchandise Purchases and Staking Rewards
The compromised account suggested that the METAL token would serve as a digital currency for buying Metallica merchandise and staking to earn rewards. This deception not only aimed to defraud fans financially but to damage the band’s reputation widely. Given Metallica’s massive global fanbase, the potential fallout from this scam could be far-reaching, undermining trust in both the band and affiliated platforms that fans use for purchases.
Recurring Victimization: Metallica’s Struggle with Crypto Scams
This isn’t Metallica’s first encounter with cryptocurrency fraud. Earlier, the band had to issue a public denial refuting involvement in bogus Bitcoin and Ethereum giveaways following the release of their album “72 Seasons.” The fraudulent giveaways were aggressively promoted through a fake livestream that appeared on YouTube, drawing significant attention and misleading countless fans.
Wave of Celebrity Meme Coins: A New Frontier for Scammers
The trend of celebrity meme coins has become fertile ground for cybercriminals. Following the compromising of Metallica’s account, American rapper 50 Cent’s social media was also hacked to promote another fake Solana token. These sequential attacks reflect a broader strategy by fraudsters to capitalize on the cryptocurrency craze by leveraging influential figures and popular trends to ensure maximum reach and impact.
Conclusion
The recent scam involving Metallica underscores the persistent threat that cryptocurrency fraud poses, especially when it exploits well-known brands and celebrities. Fans need to remain vigilant and skeptical of too-good-to-be-true offers, even when they appear to come from trusted sources. As these digital heists become more sophisticated, the onus is on both individuals and platform providers to fortify security measures and protect against such fraudulent activities.
