Recently, YouTube was inundated with fake Space X giveaway scams disguised as live streams dedicated to the April 8 solar eclipse event. These scams were detected by the research group Mysk, who identified a verified YouTube account live-streaming a solar eclipse under the title “Live: Solar Eclipse Spectacular 2024 of SpaceX,” featuring a deepfake video of SpaceX founder Elon Musk.

In the video, the fake Elon Musk encouraged viewers to scan a QR code on the screen and deposit cryptocurrencies for doubling. Users who scanned the QR code were directed to a website displaying the scammer’s wallet addresses, accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various other popular cryptocurrencies.

According to the research group, the live stream became the top search result for “solar eclipse livestream” and attracted over 95,000 viewers at its peak. Another live stream titled “2024 Total Solar Eclipse: Through the Eyes of SpaceX,” identified by user Jason Paladino, gathered over 164,000 live viewers. Scammers in the live stream chat used a fake Elon Musk YouTube account to promote the same crypto doubling scam.

The scammers directed users to a Russian website registered on the same day to receive cryptocurrencies from victims. These types of giveaway scams have been prevalent in the cryptocurrency sector for years, with scammers making away with significant amounts of crypto from unsuspecting users in the past.

These scams are not limited to impersonating Elon Musk or SpaceX. Various personalities within and beyond the cryptocurrency industry have fallen victim to such scams, tarnishing their reputations. In 2020, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and 17 other victims sued YouTube to remove similar scams impersonating them for fake Bitcoin giveaways.

Unfortunately, these scams extend beyond YouTube. In February 2024, security firm CertiK discovered scammers impersonating Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin using deepfake videos to promote wallet-draining phishing sites. Additionally, social media platforms like TikTok have also become breeding grounds for similar scams, with scammers posing as reputable figures like Elon Musk and SpaceX to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes.

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