Revelations in Celebrity Cybercrime: The Connection to Gurvinder Bhangu
Recently, renowned on-chain investigator ZachXBT has made significant discoveries linking the convicted hacker Gurvinder Bhangu—known as Gurv—to high-profile breaches involving the social media accounts of actress Sydney Sweeney and actor Bob Odenkirk, famous for his role in ‘Breaking Bad’.
This breach has led to the theft of more than $530,000, primarily through scams associated with a meme coin on the Solana blockchain.
The SWEENEY Coin Incident
On July 2nd, Sweeney experienced a SIM swap attack, during which her account was compromised. From her profile, a link to a deceptive meme coin named SWEENEY, built on the Solana network, was disseminated, resulting in a dramatic surge in the coin’s value followed by a sharp decline.
ZachXBT’s recent investigations revealed that the wallets associated with the SWEENEY scam liquidated over $515,000 worth of the coin before the perpetrators withdrew their earnings. In the aftermath, the hacker displayed a blatant disregard for the situation, taunting users on social media and even claiming responsibility for other notable cyber incidents. This included incidents involving former wrestler Hulk Hogan and rapper 50 Cent, although substantial proof for these assertions remains scant.
Investigation into the Sweeney Scam Unfolds
In a thorough investigation, the on-chain analyst ZachXBT utilized timing analysis to follow the trail of funds stemming from the Sweeney scam. This investigation led to a cryptocurrency exchange on the Solana network, where the stolen assets were subsequently converted into Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Evidence Emerges from Screenshots
Further developments included the appearance of screenshots online, which depicted an individual named Gurv receiving login codes for Sweeney’s account through a SIM swap via Telegram. Accompanying these images was a receipt from Verizon confirming the SIM swap transaction.
Gurv’s Criminal Background Revealed
Gurv, who had previously faced legal consequences in the UK for hacking Instagram accounts and extorting users, was identified as the individual in the screenshots. His unique Telegram user ID and discussions about his past prison sentence helped confirm his identity.
Bob Odenkirk’s Account Hacked
In a related incident, it was discovered that on July 9th, a transaction of 1.5 ETH occurred, leading to an exchange and ultimately reaching Solana, which was linked to the SIM swap involving Sydney Sweeney. On the same day, Bob Odenkirk’s account on X also fell victim to a hack, with posts promoting meme coins KIRK and SAUL.
Limited Profits from the Scam
Despite the hackers’ efforts, their gains from the scam were minimal, highlighting the challenges faced by cybercriminals in executing successful operations.
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Investigation into Cryptocurrency Misappropriation
Recent inquiries have revealed a troubling pattern of cryptocurrency mismanagement. Notably, the funds have been traced back to the same Ethereum wallet implicated in the Sweeney incident.
Tracing the Flow of Funds
Further investigation has uncovered that a significant portion of the misappropriated assets was funneled into online gambling platforms and used for the purchase of gift cards. Currently, the digital wallets associated with these breaches are holding approximately $488,000.
Call for Action
There is hope that law enforcement agencies in the UK will act swiftly to pursue Gurv, armed with a substantial amount of evidence at their disposal.
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