The recent uncovering of evidence by on-chain investigator ZachXBT has shed light on the involvement of convicted UK hacker Gurvinder Bhangu in the high-profile compromises of American actress Sydney Sweeney’s and ‘Breaking Bad’ actor Bob Odenkirk’s X accounts. These incidents resulted in over $530,000 being stolen through Solana meme coin scams, marking a significant breach of security.
On July 2nd, Sydney Sweeney became a victim of a SIM swap attack, where a fraudulent meme coin called SWEENEY was posted from her account. This led to a spike in the coin’s price followed by a sharp decline. ZachXBT’s investigation revealed that team wallets from the SWEENEY scam cashed out more than $515,000 worth of the coin, further implicating Gurvinder Bhangu in the elaborate scheme.
Through meticulous timing analysis, ZachXBT traced the proceeds from the SWEENEY scam to a Solana exchange, where they were converted into Bitcoin and Ethereum. Screenshots circulating online showed Gurv receiving codes for accessing Sweeney’s account via Telegram, along with a receipt from Verizon confirming the SIM swap. Gurv’s history of hacking Instagram accounts and blackmailing users in the UK added credibility to the evidence against him.
Gurv Bhangu attempted to take credit for other well-known incidents involving personalities like Hulk Hogan and 50 Cent, although concrete evidence to support these claims is lacking. The on-chain detective’s scrutiny uncovered a pattern of brazen behavior on social media, suggesting a reckless disregard for consequences.
Further investigation revealed that on July 9th, 1.5 ETH was transferred to an exchange linked to the Sydney Sweeney SIM swap, indicating a continued involvement in illicit activities. Similarly, Bob Odenkirk’s X account was hacked the same day, with meme coins KIRK and SAUL being promoted. Although the hackers only made a small profit due to mismanagement, the intertwining of Ethereum addresses and crypto casinos hinted at a money laundering scheme.
Currently, wallets associated with the hacks hold $488,000, underscoring the financial impact of Gurvinder Bhangu’s actions. The repercussions of these scams extend beyond mere monetary losses, as they erode trust in digital security and highlight the vulnerabilities inherent in the cryptocurrency landscape.
The unraveling of Gurvinder Bhangu’s involvement in the Solana scams serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of cybercrime and the importance of robust security measures in an increasingly digital world. It underscores the need for constant vigilance and accountability in the realm of cryptocurrency to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
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