YouTube Crypto Bot SCAM: Drains 256 ETH
How to Stay Safe
What Happened
Cybercriminals hijacked long-standing YouTube channels that once shared crypto news or investing tips and uploaded videos promoting a “crypto trading bot.”
How the Scam Works
Victims watch a tutorial video and deploy the provided “bot” smart contract.
The contract secretly adds the attacker’s wallet as a beneficiary.
When users fund the contract (often ≥0.5 ETH to cover gas), the scammer instantly drains their deposit.
Money Lost
Over 256 ETH (≈ $939,000) stolen so far, with individual scammer wallets holding up to 244.9 ETH.
Red Flags to Spot
Videos hosted on aged channels that suddenly pivot to “too-good-to-be-true” trading bots
AI-generated audio/visual glitches—robotic voices, unnatural lip movements
Deleted or censored negative comments and fake positive testimonials
Expert Advice
Always audit smart contracts before deploying—check the code for hidden beneficiaries.
Use reputable tools for on-chain analysis (Etherscan, Tenderly) to verify contract flows.
Never send funds to unverified bots or unknown addresses, no matter how polished the video.
Source: Cointelegraph, “Crypto trader bot scam on YouTube looted 256 ETH: SentinelLABS”
Credit: Stephen Katte / SentinelLABS
