Binance founder, Mr. Changpeng Zhao, issued an urgent warning, advising users not to install software from unofficial sources, citing the increasing threat from Zoom attacks using deepfake AI targeting the cryptocurrency community.

This warning comes after a sophisticated deepfake scam targeted Japanese cryptocurrency influencer Mai Fujimoto, widely known as “Miss Bitcoin.”

Deepfake Scammers Targeting Crypto Elite — Here's How They Attack

According to a detailed post on June 19 on X, Fujimoto revealed that the incident began after her social media account was compromised on June 14. Despite numerous reports sent to the platform, her account remained active, making her vulnerable to subsequent attacks.

The scam took place during a routine video call with an acquaintance. Fujimoto accidentally remained in a Zoom session with a deepfake impersonator after her acquaintance's Telegram account was compromised before the call was arranged.

“When I opened the Zoom link, her face appeared, so I had no doubts,” Fujimoto explained. The deception continued as she encountered audio issues.

For about 10 minutes, Fujimoto interacted with someone she believed to be her acquaintance, unaware that she was communicating with an AI-generated impersonator. The attack ultimately compromised her MetaMask cryptocurrency wallet.

Fujimoto reflected: “If I had known about this type of deepfake scam, I might not have clicked on the link.”

Now she warns others:

Warning: Your Next Zoom Call Could Drain Your Cryptocurrency Wallet

The attack followed an established pattern, evidenced by a similar incident involving Mehdi Farooq, a former investment partner at Animoca Brands. Farooq's challenge began with a Telegram message from Alex Lin, someone he knew well, expressing a desire to reconnect.

After scheduling the meeting, Lin requested to switch to Zoom Business for "compliance reasons," claiming that a mutual acquaintance would join. "Since we are conducting multiple treasury transactions, this request didn’t seem unusual," Farooq explained.

Like Fujimoto, Farooq experienced audio issues during the call. Participants clearly guided him to update his Zoom software to resolve the problem.

The results were disastrous, with six cryptocurrency wallets drained and his laptop completely compromised. “Years of savings disappeared in just a few minutes,” Farooq said, later discovering that Lin's account had been hacked.

White hat hackers identified the potential threat as “dangerouspassword,” believed to be linked to North Korean cybercrime groups.

Lost $140,000 in Minutes: How AI Deepfake is Draining Cryptocurrency Wallets

The deepfake threat is not limited to individual victims. Steven Bartlett, co-founder of Third Web and SpaceX investor, highlighted the broader implications by referencing an incident involving Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, whose likeness was used in deepfake ads scamming viewers out of £140,000.

“The cryptocurrency industry and digital space have only just begun the deepfake era,” Bartlett warned. He reported receiving thousands of messages flagging AI-generated videos and paid ads using his likeness on social platforms.

“These are not ordinary posts but ads promoted through Facebook, X, and YouTube's advertising systems,” Bartlett remarked, criticizing platforms for accepting payments from scammers targeting vulnerable users.

The Growing Threat of Cryptocurrency Hacks

Recent research from Bitget shows that in the first quarter of 2025 alone, authorities disrupted at least 87 AI-driven fraud operations.

Countries including China, Germany, Ukraine, the United States, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom have the highest incidence of deepfake-related attacks.

Bitget's CEO, Gracy Chen, described the severity of the threat as follows:

Fraud prevention agencies worldwide are mobilizing a response. On June 17, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre issued a warning about the rising prevalence of deepfakes, particularly noting fraudulent videos featuring celebrities promoting cryptocurrency investment scams.

Security experts recommend a layered approach by verifying all links before clicking, avoiding suspicious downloads, and maintaining awareness of current scam techniques. Organizations should implement stronger security defense measures and cultivate a culture of "verify before trust."