Kaylah Walton
A surprising revelation unfolded as actress Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in “Euphoria,” became the victim of cybercriminals. They not only took control of her phone number but also compromised her X account to endorse a cryptocurrency meme coin scam. This alarming incident occurred on the same day, causing distress among fans and cybersecurity experts.
An invoice from Verizon Wireless dated July 2, acquired by technology publication 404 Media, indicated alterations made to Sweeney’s account. The receipt, addressed to “Hi SYDNEY SWEENEY,” included a message expressing gratitude for an order, hinting at unauthorized access.
The image on the receipt depicted an iPhone and its packaging, suggesting a possible SIM swapping attack. This technique enables hackers to take over a victim’s phone number, redirecting calls and messages to their devices.
Verizon’s Prompt Response
Verizon‘s representative, Richard Young, refrained from discussing the specifics of Sweeney’s situation but emphasized, “Verizon prioritizes customer privacy and account security. Upon being made aware of an issue, we act swiftly to investigate, address it, and implement preventive measures.”
The timestamp on the receipt aligned with the day Sweeney’s X account got breached. Cybercriminals hijacked her account to post tweets promoting a cryptocurrency scam involving a meme coin dubbed $sweeney.
The misleading tweet stated, “It’s time for $sweeney to go live with 100mc incoming. Upon reaching 10mc, 10% of the supply will be burned,” and contained a link to an untrustworthy site, Pump.fun, falsely asserting Sweeney’s endorsement. The hackers went further to deceive Sweeney’s 1 million followers by announcing a live event to showcase the alleged advantages of $sweeney.
The Protagonist Emerges Victorious
Luckily, Sweeney swiftly regained control of her account, eliminating all fake posts. Her most recent genuine tweet, promoting her portrayal of boxer Christy Martin in the upcoming movie “Anyone But You,” goes back to May.
Sweeney becomes another addition to the growing roster of celebrities targeted by hackers. Recently, rappers 50 Cent, Doja Cat, Rich the Kid, and former wrestler Hulk Hogan have all encountered similar cyber intrusions on their social media profiles.
As fans anticipate further developments, this occurrence highlights the significance of robust digital security protocols for high-profile figures.
