Fortnite Pro Steals $3.5 Million in Meme Coin Scam
November 28, 2024
Australian YouTuber SerpentAU, who is known for his exceptional skills in Fortnite, is at the center of a major cryptocurrency scam.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has revealed that SerpentAU, whose real name remains unknown, played a key role in a $3.5 million scam using meme coins. The incident marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former player, who was dropped from the Overtime Gaming team in 2020 following cheating allegations. Click here for advertising or press releases for the crypto project
From gaming scandal to cryptocurrency scam
According to ZachXBT’s in-depth investigation, SerpentAU has been involved in several account hijackings (ATOs). These attacks have targeted high-profile entities such as McDonald’s, singer Usher, and meme coin creator Kabosu. ZachXBT said:
“Over the past few months, I have been tracking a series of hacks involving McDonald's, Usher, Kabosu Owner, Andy Ayrey, Wiz Khalifa, SPX 6900, etc. on X & IG that resulted in an estimated $3.5M+ being stolen via the launch of Pump Fun meme coins.”
The hacked social media accounts were used to promote the scam cryptocurrency, prompting unsuspecting followers to invest heavily. For example, the McDonald’s Instagram hack alone netted the scammers over $690,000. The hacker transferred the funds via blockchain wallets connected to SerpentAU.
Using timing analysis and chain tracing, ZachXBT linked the funds from these scams to gambling platforms like Stake and Roobet. SerpentAU reportedly gambled millions of dollars on these platforms. In one instance, a leaked Discord screen share revealed Serpent making high-value deposits and withdrawals linked to wallets involved in the scam.
SerpentAU began gaining attention in 2020 after being exposed for using macros that gave him an unfair advantage in Fortnite's Creative mode. Although he apologized at the time and admitted his mistake, his career took a darker turn.
By 2022, SerpentAU had co-founded NFT (non-fungible token) and cryptocurrency projects like DAPE and ERROR. Both projects collapsed amid accusations of fraudulent activity. These projects paved the way for his deeper involvement in blockchain-based scams.
The importance of social media as a tool for criminals to carry out their schemes is becoming clear. As ZachXBT continues to uncover the details of these operations, the cryptocurrency and gaming communities are facing the cost of over-trusting celebrities and influencers.
ZachXBT is a well-known investigator who has exposed many scammers and their operations, having previously uncovered massive scams targeting Coinbase users, as well as meme coin manipulation by prominent figures such as influencer Murad.
His investigations also included the arrest of hackers involved in fraud cases linked to Genesis Trading creditors, as well as the resignation of senior figures at OpSec Williams following fraud allegations. ZachXBT’s efforts reflect the significant risks facing investors in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
