Canucks' X Account Hacked, Promotes Fake Crypto Giveaway

The Vancouver Canucks, a professional NHL ice hockey team, recently announced the launch of a new meme coin on X, only to later confirm that its social media account had been compromised. The team issued a statement urging followers to disregard any recent posts until further notice, as they worked with the platform and the NHL to resolve the issue.

A promotional post from the official X account of the Canucks advertised a pre-sale for the cryptocurrency token $Canucks on the Solana blockchain. The post, which has since been deleted, claimed that the Canucks were the "first NHL team to ever do this" and that the tokens would be distributed within 24 hours, with 100% going into a liquidity pool.

The post included a deepfake video featuring Elon Musk, the owner of X, promising a $20 million "crypto giveaway." The video directed users to a fake Musk website, which appeared to be based in Russia. The posts were live for a few hours before being fully removed by the NHL team. The timing of the breach is notable as it occurred just hours before the Canucks’ scheduled NHL Draft Lottery.

Hackers also replied to user questions, claiming that the account had not been hacked, before the Canucks’ official public relations account flagged the warning message to users. This is not the first time a similar scam has targeted the Canucks; former goaltender Eddie Lack's account was previously compromised and used to push a crypto scam.

This incident highlights the growing threat of deepfake technology and social media account hacks, particularly in the context of cryptocurrency scams. The use of deepfake videos featuring prominent figures like Elon Musk adds a layer of deception, making it more difficult for users to discern the legitimacy of the content. The Canucks’ prompt response and communication with their followers demonstrate the importance of transparency and quick action in mitigating the impact of such breaches.