Metallica‘s X/Twitter account was apparently hacked by scammers pumping a cryptocurrency underneath the ticker “METAL.”
The primary put up to advertise the Solana-based token appeared on the band’s X account early Wednesday (June twenty sixth). The scammers went to nice lengths to make the announcement look official, as seen in screenshots of the since-removed posts [via Cointelegaph].
“Prepare for the takeover,” reads the primary put up. “Faucet into $METAL, a dynamic new token on the Solana blockchain poised to revolutionize the way you expertise occasions and store on-line. In collaboration with @Ticketmaster.”
Yep, the scammers went so far as to say partnerships with Ticketmaster and fintech agency Moonpay, even sharing professional-looking graphics with each manufacturers’ logos in later posts. MoonPay president Keith Grossman was fast to dismiss any involvement on X/Twitter, posting: “MoonPay does NOT assist METAL.”
The hacked Metallica account went on to put up particulars about how customers may money of their METAL tokens to redeem live performance tickets and unique merch, resembling an Xbox Sequence X sport console signed by the members of Metallica — once more with a professional graphic depicting an precise Xbox with signatures.
The posts have been deleted and Metallica’s account restored to normalcy. Whereas the band has but to launch a press release on the matter, it did repost Grossman’s tweet about Moonpay not supporting METAL.
Even nonetheless, the transient rip-off pumped the METAL token to a peak of $3.37 million roughly 20 minutes after it was launched. Three hours later, it had plummeted to $90k.
Given the obvious authenticity of the rip-off and the truth that different metallic bands have launched crypto tokens, it’s not stunning that some purchased in. Fellow thrashers Megadeth launched their very own $MEGA Coin crypto a number of years in the past, as did metallic luminaries Randy Blythe and Dez Fafara.
Get Metallica Tickets Right here
When you received’t be capable to change any crypto for Metallica tickets, you may head over to StubHub to legitimately buy tickets to the band’s upcoming and last “M72” gigs in North America.