• Drake’s X account was hacked to promote a Solana-based memecoin named $ANITA.

  • The scam generated $5M in trading volume before being exposed and removed.

Canadian rap superstar Drake’s X account was hacked on Saturday night and used to promote a fraudulent Solana-based memecoin called “$ANITA.” The scam capitalized on Drake’s cartoon “alter ego,” Anita Max Wynn, leveraging his brand to lend credibility to the fraudulent project.

Hackers targeted Drake’s over 39 million followers with messages falsely claiming Stake launched the token. Stake is a crypto betting platform associated with Drake since 2022. 

The posts included a contract address for the token and featured a cartoon character linked to the project. The fraudulent coin’s name mirrored Drake’s upcoming Anita Max Wynn Tour in Australia and New Zealand. The name “Anita Max Wynn” is a play on the gambling term “I need a max win.”

Traders drove the memecoin’s trading volume to $5 million before realising it was fake and stopping their engagement. DexScreener data revealed that the scam attracted significant attention before the fraudulent nature of the token became evident. Drake’s team removed the related posts, and X suspended an account claiming to be the project’s official page.

Crypto Scams Targeting Celebrities

This incident highlights a growing trend of hacking high-profile X accounts to promote crypto scams. Recently, other celebrity musicians, including Cardi B, Doja Cat, and Metallica, have been victims of similar attacks. Hackers exploited the Cardano Foundation’s X account last Sunday for a comparable scam, generating significantly less trading volume than “$ANITA.”

Reports have extensively documented Drake’s association with digital assets. He has publicly supported cryptocurrencies and once shared a post featuring Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin commentary. However, he has also faced separate allegations from a social media influencer over a $2 million loss in a crypto investment deal.

Scammers often target celebrities and brands to exploit their influence and create a sense of legitimacy for fraudulent projects. Social media hacks remain a prevalent tactic for cybercriminals in the cryptocurrency space.

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