In recent news, prominent on-chain sleuth ZachXBT has uncovered evidence linking convicted UK hacker Gurvinder Bhangu, also known as Gurv, to a series of high-profile hacks involving American actress Sydney Sweeney and ‘Breaking Bad’ actor Bob Odenkirk. These hacks resulted in the theft of over $530,000 through Solana meme coin scams.
On July 2nd, Sydney Sweeney fell victim to a SIM swap attack, leading to a fraudulent meme coin based on Solana called SWEENEY being posted from her account. This caused the coin’s price to spike and then plummet. Team wallets from the SWEENEY scam sold off more than $515,000 worth of the coin before cashing out.
Following the incident, the hacker Gurv appeared to boast on social media, attempting to take credit for other high-profile incidents involving celebrities like retired professional wrestler Hulk Hogan and rapper 50 Cent. However, evidence for these claims is limited, according to ZachXBT.
Through timing analysis, ZachXBT traced the proceeds from the SWEENEY scam to a Solana exchange where they were converted to Bitcoin and Ethereum. Screenshots surfaced online showing Gurv receiving codes for Sweeney’s account from the SIM swap on Telegram, along with a receipt from Verizon for the SIM swap. Further investigation revealed the transfer of 1.5 ETH to an exchange connected to the Sydney Sweeney SIM swap.
On the same day, Bob Odenkirk’s account was also hacked, with links to meme coins KIRK and SAUL being posted. Despite the attempt, the hackers only profited a small amount due to mishandling the scam. Interestingly, proceeds from this hack were traced back to the same Ethereum address used in the Sweeney hack.
Evidence suggests that funds from the hacks were transferred to crypto casinos and used for gift card purchases. Currently, the wallets connected to the hacks hold $488,000.
The investigation conducted by ZachXBT has shed light on the intricate web of scams orchestrated by Gurv in the realm of Solana meme coins. The brazen behavior displayed by the hacker, coupled with his past criminal record, paints a troubling picture of the lengths individuals will go to for financial gain in the world of cryptocurrency. It is crucial for users to remain vigilant and practice caution when dealing with online accounts and investments to avoid falling victim to similar scams in the future.
Leave a Reply