Recently, well-known investigator ZachXBT revealed some interesting findings connecting a convicted UK hacker named Gurvinder Bhangu, also known as Gurv, to the hacking of American actress Sydney Sweeney’s and actor Bob Odenkirk’s X accounts. This led to a total of over $530,000 being stolen through scams involving Solana meme coins.
In the case of Sydney Sweeney, she became a victim of a SIM swap attack on July 2nd. A fraudulent meme coin called SWEENEY, based on Solana, was promoted from her account, causing a spike and subsequent drop in the coin’s price. The team behind the SWEENEY scam managed to sell off more than $515,000 worth of the coin before cashing out. The hacker behind this incident seemed to boast about it on social media and tried to take credit for other high-profile hacks involving Hulk Hogan and 50 Cent, although evidence supporting these claims is scarce.
ZachXBT’s investigation revealed that the proceeds from the SWEENEY scam were converted to Bitcoin and Ethereum on a Solana exchange. Screenshots showing Gurv receiving login codes from the SIM swap on Telegram and a receipt from Verizon for the swap further linked him to the crime. Gurv, who has a history of hacking Instagram accounts and blackmailing users, was identified based on his unique Telegram user ID and conversations about his past crimes.
Bob Odenkirk’s X account was also targeted on July 9th, with links to meme coins KIRK and SAUL being posted. However, the hackers only made a small profit due to their mishandling of the scam. The funds from this hack were traced back to the same Ethereum address used in the Sweeney hack. It was discovered that the stolen funds were transferred to crypto casinos and used for gift card purchases. Currently, the wallets associated with these hacks hold $488,000 in total.
ZachXBT expressed hope that UK law enforcement would act swiftly to apprehend Gurv again, given the substantial evidence available linking him to these crimes.
In light of these incidents, it is crucial for individuals to be vigilant about their online security and take measures to protect their accounts from such attacks. It serves as a reminder of the importance of strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and staying informed about potential security threats in the digital world.