Hackers hacked YouTube channels and staged a "crypto prize draw" allegedly from Microsoft

[Tomcat]

Unknown attackers hacked several dozen YouTube channels, renamed them using various Microsoft brands and launched a live broadcast, allegedly on behalf of Bill Gates. During the broadcast, the scammers advertised a pyramid scheme in the field of cryptocurrency investments.

According to ZDNet, the attackers hacked over thirty YouTube channels and broadcast Gates' speech at the Village Global venture capital firm in June 2019 on the topic of startups. Simultaneously with the broadcast of the report of the ex-head of Microsoft, the scammers also displayed advertisements calling to take part in the prize drawing. To participate in the "draw" it was necessary to send a small amount of cryptocurrency to the scammers. They promised to double the amount sent, but they certainly did not.

Previously, attackers used Twitter to carry out such fraudulent schemes, but after the social network began to block fake accounts in recent months, they targeted YouTube.

The names of the channels from which the broadcasts were conducted used the words Microsoft US, Microsoft Europe, Microsoft News, etc. According to Microsoft representatives, none of the company's official channels was hacked. Nevertheless, the hacked channels numbered tens of thousands of subscribers, so after renaming by the scammers they looked very convincing. After the broadcast, some of the bitcoin wallets indicated by the scammers were replenished with thousands of dollars, which means that someone still fell for the bait.