CZ Warns of AI Deepfake Scams Targeting Crypto Industry

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, has issued a stark warning about the escalating threat of AI-powered deepfake scams targeting the cryptocurrency industry. In a post on X, CZ highlighted the potential unreliability of video call verifications, urging the community to exercise extreme caution when dealing with software links from unofficial sources, especially during suspicious interactions.

CZ's warning came in the wake of a high-profile incident involving Japanese crypto influencer Mai Fujimoto. Fujimoto revealed that her main X account had been compromised after she participated in a Zoom call, believing she was communicating with a trusted friend. Unbeknownst to her, the friend's Telegram account had already been hacked. During the call, a deepfaked version of the acquaintance instructed her to click a link to resolve an audio issue, which triggered the attack. Following this, her Telegram and Metamask accounts were also accessed, putting her crypto assets at risk.

Fujimoto's experience is part of a broader trend of AI-powered scams. Reports indicate that BlueNoroff, a cybercrime group linked to North Korea, employed similar tactics to target a cryptocurrency foundation employee. Over several weeks of Zoom calls, the victim was shown AI-generated deepfakes of company executives. The victim was prompted to download a "microphone fix," which installed a malicious extension containing a keylogger, screen recorder, and crypto-stealing malware. These incidents underscore how AI can be leveraged by hackers to execute sophisticated scams, particularly against crypto workers and remote employees.

CZ's message to the community is clear: do not trust software links from unofficial sources and question the authenticity of video calls. As deepfake technology continues to advance, online scams are becoming increasingly difficult to detect. For anyone involved in the crypto space, vigilance is no longer optional. Protecting one's assets now requires verifying every link, call, and conversation to ensure their legitimacy and security.