The British army’s social media accounts fell victim to a cyber attack over the weekend, leading to a breach of their Twitter and YouTube profiles. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) press office confirmed the incident on Twitter, stating that they were aware of the breach and had launched an investigation into the matter. They assured the public that information security was a top priority for the army and that they were working to resolve the issue.
Reports indicated that the hackers had also gained access to the army’s Facebook account, using all three platforms to promote cryptocurrency scams. Links to various fraudulent schemes, including fake minting of The Possessed NFT collection, were shared on Twitter and YouTube. On YouTube, the hackers went a step further by rebranding the account to resemble investment firm Ark Invest and live streaming videos featuring prominent figures like Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey.
The scam involved encouraging viewers to send their cryptocurrency to QR codes with promises of receiving double their investment in return. Fortunately, the MoD was quick to remove all malicious content from their social media accounts once the breach was discovered.
This incident comes in the wake of a warning from Santander about the rise of celebrity-endorsed cryptocurrency scams in the UK. The bank reported a significant increase in such scams, with the average cost rising to £11,872 in the first quarter of 2022. Additionally, research conducted last November revealed that YouTube Live scams generated nearly $9 million for fraudsters in October alone.
As cyber attacks continue to pose a threat to individuals and organizations alike, it is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their online accounts and personal information. The British army’s experience serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in today’s digital age.