With so much hype about NFTs and their potential, an increasing number of people are flocking to NFT trading platforms to learn the ropes as early adopters. However, as a relatively new concept, users are vulnerable to early adopter errors and attacks. For the second time in a row, NFT trading platform OpenSea has become a victim of both.
A new wave of cybercrime has targeted the company just three months after the initial incident. The main website is safe this time, however, the OpenSea Discord channel has been compromised. Scammers used a bot to post phony information about a YouTube-OpenSea alliance that will deliver free NFT products and minting, luring visitors to a phishing site.
Users who fell for the ruse and clicked the false giveaway link gave the attacker access to their non-fungible art collections. The total value of the 13 artworks stolen by the con artist is $18,000. It’s unknown how the hacker gained access to the OpenSea Discord channel, but the business is actively investigating the crime. This isn’t the first time a non-fungible token community has been targeted by a phishing attempt; the Bored Ape Yacht Club is an excellent example. Users’ intellect is exploited in these assaults, causing them to unwittingly grant access to their wallets by clicking on fraudulent links.
The non-fungible token community is growing, and in the future years, it is expected to experience a tremendous flood of people. This should encourage platforms and businesses that provide such services to strengthen their defenses against hackers and cybercriminals. The responsibility for cybersecurity falls not just on service providers, but also on individual users.