The Solana blockchain continues to be a major option for cybercriminals, as evidenced by the latest cybersecurity attack involving rising Hollywood superstar and actress Sydney Sweeney when her X (formerly Twitter) account was compromised in order to promote a fake Solana-based meme coin dubbed “SWEENEY.”
Sweeney’s notoriety and influence were used to trick unwary fans into investing in the fraudulent meme coin through posts that promised bonuses and special opportunities for early investors.
Fake Solana-Based Meme Coin SWEENEY’s Entry Into The Crypto Market
On Tuesday, Sydney Sweeney was the most recent victim of a social media hack as her X account was hacked to advertise a fake Solana-based meme coin. This event comes after similar celebrity attacks, all aimed at promoting questionable cryptocurrency tokens, like those on 50 Cent and Hulk Hogan.
Following the hack, the intruders posted misleading messages and links enticing Sweeney’s followers to invest in the phony cryptocurrency SWEENEY, taking advantage of her high-profile position and sizable social media following. “Going live on spaces soon, stay tuned to see what SWEENEY can do,” one of the posts read.
These comments, which seemed authentic to her millions of followers, directed people to the website that claimed to be selling the fake Solana meme coin. The idea that Sweeney’s account was compromised was sparked by the team’s quick action to take back control of her account and remove the false posts.
According to trading platform TOBTC, the meme coin witnessed a notable surge in trading activity after its introduction into the crypto market, amassing over $10 million in less than 2 hours. However, despite experiencing such a massive trading volume, SWEENEY suffered a roughly 90% decline in value a few hours after the posts were deleted.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Sweeney’s X account has been hacked and used by cybercriminals to promote a fake token. Back in January, the actress’s account was breached to promote a separate Solana meme currency with a graphic depiction of sex.
More Hollywood Actors Breach Ahead?
Sydney Sweeney is the second Hollywood figure who has fallen victim to a hack in less than 2 months. In April, superstar actor Tom Holland also known as Spider-man, saw his X account breached by hackers.
These bad actors allegedly announced that the Spider-Man hero was establishing “Spiderverse” in collaboration with the Binance exchange after taking control of the account, which boasts millions of followers.
This event brings to light the increasing tendency of fraudsters to use well-known social media profiles to promote cryptocurrency schemes. It also emphasizes how crucial it is for users to exercise caution when interacting with digital assets and to confirm the legitimacy of investment opportunities, particularly those advertised on celebrity profiles.
Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
