XRP News Today: Ripple warns of YouTube scams amid XRP's $3.66 surge to 2018 high

Ripple has raised urgent concerns over a surge in YouTube scams targeting XRP investors, coinciding with the cryptocurrency’s recent price rally. CEO Brad Garlinghouse warned on X that fraudsters are exploiting heightened market activity to impersonate Ripple’s official YouTube channel, promoting fake giveaways and deceptive content. “Like clockwork, with success and market rallies, scammers ramp up their attacks on the crypto community,” Garlinghouse stated, urging users to remain vigilant. The scams involve hacking accounts with large followings to disseminate fraudulent material, including a recent scheme offering free XRP in videos falsely endorsed by Ripple [1].

The warnings follow XRP’s price surge to $3.66 on July 18—the token’s highest since 2018—sparking renewed speculative interest. While analysts predict further gains, the asset retreated to $3.19 in the subsequent 24 hours. This volatility has coincided with record losses to crypto scams, which hit $2.1 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing the $2 billion benchmark set in 2022 [2]. Ripple’s X account emphasized that it would never solicit XRP transfers from users, a common tactic in phishing attempts.

The firm’s concerns are not new. In 2021, Ripple sued YouTube over impersonators, alleging the platform profited from scams. The case, which involved spear-phishing attacks and fake giveaways, was dropped after a resolution was reached. Garlinghouse noted that similar tactics are now reemerging, with scammers leveraging hacked accounts to mimic Ripple’s brand. The official YouTube channel, which has 81,000 subscribers, has been targeted in multiple instances, including a recent campaign using a 176,000-subscriber account to promote a fake 100 million XRP giveaway [3].

The issue extends beyond Ripple. Security firm Scam Sniffer reported that fraudulent ads and Punycode domain attacks are tricking users into visiting counterfeit crypto sites via Google search results. These tactics exploit how browsers display internationalized domain names, making fake websites appear legitimate. “Stop using Google search for crypto sites unless you enjoy playing Russian roulette with your wallet,” the firm advised, highlighting the broader industry challenge of misinformation [4].

Garlinghouse reiterated Ripple’s commitment to combating scams, urging users to report suspicious activity and avoid sharing funds with unverified sources. The firm also reiterated that it would never conduct giveaways, a red flag users are advised to recognize. Meanwhile, Bitcoin and Ether have also seen recent gains, with BTC rising over 7% in 14 days and ETH surging 31% in the same period. However, such price movements have historically coincided with increased scam activity, underscoring the need for heightened user education [5].

Ripple’s warnings align with broader industry efforts to address social media fraud. U.S. banking groups have similarly urged caution regarding crypto firms seeking traditional financial licenses, while other platforms are adopting stricter measures to flag fraudulent content. The incident highlights the challenges of protecting retail investors in a rapidly evolving market, where innovation often outpaces regulatory frameworks [6].

As XRP consolidates its gains, the focus remains on balancing growth with investor protection. Ripple’s proactive stance reflects the growing importance of transparency in crypto, but the effectiveness of such measures depends on user awareness and platform cooperation. The firm’s ongoing advocacy for clearer global regulations underscores the need for systemic solutions to combat fraud, a critical step in fostering trust in digital assets.

Source:

[1] [Ripple CEO Sounds the Alarm Over YouTube XRP Scam](https://u.today/ripple-ceo-sounds-the-alarm-over-youtube-xrp-scam)

[2] [Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Raises Alarm Over Rising...](https://cryptonews.net/news/security/31308160/)

[3] [XRP (XRP) Price Forecasts, Predictions & News](https://www.fxempire.com/crypto/ripple/news)

[4] [XRP Pulls Back After Technical Surge; Pattern...](https://coinstats.app/news/498e989247f685cb77a9798e3b3b2bfe7d749213345db2245a5db9a032f2bed6_XRP-Pulls-Back-After-Technical-Surge-Pattern-Still-Points-to-6-Target)

[5] [Is XRP Stronger Than Ethereum? Bitcoin's (BTC)...](https://u.today/is-xrp-stronger-than-ethereum-bitcoins-btc-150000-around-corner-shiba-inu-shib-summers-biggest-test)

[6] [Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Raises Alarm Over Rising...](https://cryptonews.net/news/security/31308160/)