EigenLayer X Account Hacked to Run Airdrop Scam
In a surprising plot twist, the X account of EigenLayer, the second-biggest protocol on Ethereum, was compromised this Wednesday and utilized in running an airdrop scam. This even resulted in the loss of more than $800,000 in cryptocurrencies by one of its victims. Immediately after it got hacked, EigenLayer Labs warned users not to interact with any links.
Investigator Warns About Links
On-chain investigator ZachXBT was the first to out the scam, warning users not to click any dubious links shared by the compromised account. The posts were PED marketing fake airdrop to steal victims crypto wallets.
How the Scam Worked
The scheme involved forged posts linked to legitimate-appearing blog posts. Victims were directed to a sham website that was very similar in appearance to legitimate pages belonging to EigenLayer. Users visiting the malicious site were misled into attempting to use their wallets to claim the sham airdrop tokens, thereby allowing the hacker access to the funds. The legitimate blog of EigenLayer is at “blog.eigenlayer.xyz,” while the scam directed victims to “blog.eigenfoundation.org.”
Victim Loses $800K, More at Risk
Despite warnings and fraudulent post takedowns, at least one victim lost $800,000 to the scam. The scammer continued to post reminders and final calls, saying he was reclaiming tokens from the ended Season 2 airdrop.
EigenLayer: A Repeated Target
This is not the first time EigenLayer has been attacked. Earlier in October, the protocol had been at the center of another incident wherein a hacker had compromised an investor’s token transfer. EigenLayer maintained that its on-chain functionalities and contracts remain secure, but the frequency of the attacks has kept many within the crypto community in a state of unease.
Stay Safe from Crypto Scams
EigenLayer warned users still to be vigilant and always check the URLs before clicking on any promotion. These kinds of hacks are a clear indication that one needs to show utmost care in the crypto space, as big projects like this are an everyday target of scammers.