The official X account of the American metal band Metallica was reportedly hacked. The perpetrators used it to promote the METAL token on Solana.
The Metallica team regained control of the account and removed all posts mentioning the coin.
The initial post claimed that the token was launched in collaboration with Ticketmaster on the Pump.fun platform within the Solana ecosystem.
The scammers also claimed that the asset was supported by MoonPay. The fintech company’s president, Keith Grossman, denied this assertion and urged users to be cautious. Metallica retweeted his post.
MoonPay also issued a warning referencing the band’s third studio album and 1986 single titled Master of Puppets.
? MoonPay Safety Alert ?
If someone is offering you a $METAL token, they are not the master of puppets – they’re the master of scams! ?
Keep your keys safe and ride the lightning responsibly!⚡️ https://t.co/y1j3RkfY0f
— MoonPay ? (@moonpay) June 26, 2024
“If someone is offering you a METAL token, they are not the master of puppets – they’re the master of scams!” the statement reads.
In a series of messages aimed at attracting buyers, the perpetrators claimed that users could purchase exclusive merchandise with the asset, including “free concert tickets,” and gain access to custom gaming consoles and controllers. Promises also included the possibility of additional income through token staking.
According to the DEX Screener platform, approximately 20 minutes after launch, METAL’s market capitalization reached $3.37 million with a peak price of $0.0034. At the time of writing, the quotes have significantly plummeted, and the total asset value is only $28,000.
Back in May, hackers targeted X accounts of several influencers and celebrities to promote crypto scams.