February 11 News, Google’s security team Mandiant disclosed that a North Korea-linked hacker group is using deepfake videos and fake Zoom calls to carry out highly targeted social engineering attacks against the cryptocurrency industry, and is deploying multiple malicious programs to steal assets and data.
The investigation shows that this operation was launched by the cyber threat group UNC1069. The group has been active since at least 2018 and shifted its focus from traditional finance to the Web3 space after 2023, targeting executives of crypto financial technology companies, software developers, and venture capital professionals. The incident began when an industry executive’s Telegram account was hijacked. The attacker impersonated the individual to contact targets, build trust, and then send fake Calendly video meeting invitations.
After victims clicked the link, they were directed to a fake Zoom domain controlled by the attacker. During the call, the attacker played a deepfake video of what appeared to be the CEO of another crypto company, and claimed there was an “audio malfunction,” tricking the target into running a supposed troubleshooting command on their computer. These commands triggered an infection chain on macOS and Windows systems, silently deploying up to seven malicious software programs.
Mandiant confirmed that these tools can steal Keychain credentials, browser cookies, login information, Telegram sessions, and local sensitive files. Researchers believe that the attackers aim both to directly acquire crypto assets and to gather intelligence for future scams. Deploying so many tools on a single device indicates a carefully planned targeted infiltration.
This incident is not isolated. By 2025, similar AI conference scams had caused losses exceeding $300 million; throughout the year, cyber operations related to North Korea stole approximately $2.02 billion in digital assets, a 51% increase. Chainalysis also pointed out that scam groups utilizing on-chain AI services are significantly more efficient than traditional methods.
As the barrier to deepfake technology continues to lower, the crypto industry faces unprecedented security challenges. Experts warn that online meetings involving funds and system permissions must strengthen multi-factor authentication and device isolation; otherwise, they could become the next attack vector.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Crypto Hacks Fuel Wall Street Tokenization Debate
High-profile crypto exploits test DeFi risk yet unlikely derail tokenization; institutions favor permissioned chains, while broader tokenization must interoperate with DeFi; stablecoins face scrutiny and possible regulatory backlash.
CryptoFrontier4h ago
Volo Protocol Loses $3.5M in Sui Hack, Commits to Absorb Losses and Freeze Hacker Funds
Gate News message, April 22 — Volo Protocol, a yield vault operator on Sui, announced yesterday (April 21) that it has begun freezing stolen assets following a $3.5 million exploit. Hackers looted WBTC, XAUm, and USDG from Volo Vaults, marking the latest major DeFi security breach in a
GateNews8h ago
French Family Forced to Transfer $820K in Crypto After Armed Home Invasion
Gate News message, April 22 — A family in Ploudalmézeau, a small town in Brittany, France, was invaded by two armed masked men on Monday (April 20), according to reporting by The Block. Three adults were bound for over three hours and forced to transfer approximately 700,000 euros (about $820,000) i
GateNews9h ago
DOJ Launches Compensation Process for OneCoin Fraud Victims, $40M+ in Recovered Assets Available
Gate News message, April 22 — The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the launch of a compensation process for victims of the OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud scheme, with more than $40 million in recovered assets now available for distribution.
The scheme, operated between 2014 and 2019 by Ruja
GateNews10h ago
AI16Z, ELIZAOS Creators Sued Over $2.6B Fraud Allegations; Token Crashes 99.9% From Peak
Federal class action accuses AI16Z/ELIZAOS of a $2.6B crypto fraud via fake AI claims and deceptive marketing, alleging insider favoritism and a staged autonomous system; seeks damages under consumer protection laws.
Abstract: This report covers a SDNY federal class-action filed April 21 accusing AI16Z and its rebrand ELIZAOS of a $2.6 billion crypto fraud involving fake AI claims and deceptive marketing. The suit alleges a manufactured link with Andreessen Horowitz and a non-autonomous system. It details a peak valuation in early 2025, a 99.9% crash, and about 4,000 losing wallets, with insiders receiving ~40% of new tokens. Plaintiffs seek damages and equitable relief under New York and California consumer-protection laws. Regulators in Korea and major exchanges have warned or suspended related trading.
GateNews11h ago
SlowMist Alerts: Active MacSync Stealer macOS Malware Targeting Crypto Users
SlowMist warns of MacSync Stealer (v1.1.2) for macOS that steals wallets, credentials, keychains, and infra keys, using spoofed AppleScript prompts and fake 'unsupported' errors; urges caution and awareness of IOCs.
Abstract: This report summarizes SlowMist's alert about MacSync Stealer (v1.1.2), a macOS information stealer targeting cryptocurrency wallets, browser credentials, system keychains, and infrastructure keys (SSH, AWS, Kubernetes). It deceives users with spoofed AppleScript dialogs prompting for passwords and visible fake 'unsupported' messages. SlowMist provides IOCs to customers and advises avoiding unverified macOS scripts and remaining vigilant for unusual password prompts.
GateNews12h ago
