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One of the most recognized faces in Breaking Bad, Hank Schrader, played by Dean Norris, was recently victim to a significant breach in his social media security when hackers took over his X account to promote a fraudulent meme coin named DEAN. It is the second time within six months that his account has been hacked for cryptocurrency scams, raising the issue of celebrity accounts on social media platforms being at risk.
Norris’s Account Got Compromised
On January 25, hackers hijacked Norris’s account and sent a tweet stating that he was launching his own cryptocurrency with a contract address. This announcement was accompanied by a doctored picture of Norris supposedly holding a piece of paper with the coin’s ticker and launch date.
Following an announcement, this fraud led to a coin’s market surge that rose to approximately $8.43 million and shortly after dipped into the depths by over 96% when, after Norris confirmed the scamming, the price of the coin crashed to nearly under $60,000.
Norris Response
On January 26, Norris appeared in a video and said he was appalled by the situation, proclaiming that he had been hacked and that the memecoin was a “complete fake scam.” He ranted at Reddit users who had pointed fingers at him for the hacking, saying, “Go fuck yourselves,” and said he was only aware of the hack because friends were messaging him.
This is not an isolated hacking incident: in September 2024, Norris’s account was similarly hacked to promote another fake token called $SHRADER on the TRON blockchain. The pattern here gives cause for concern about the vulnerabilities of high-profile individuals on social media and what the implications for their reputations are when such breaches occur.
The deepfake technology is also believed to be involved in this case. On Reddit, several users had theories that the video of Norris was created through AI or that the video might have been taken out of context from a paid video service like Cameo, where fans can purchase personalized messages from celebrities. This once again raises further questions about authenticity in digital communications and how easy it is to spread misinformation.
The broader implications
The Dean Norris incident falls within the larger trend of cryptocurrency scams whose perpetrators increasingly take cover on social media platforms. As people increasingly express interest in investing in cryptocurrencies, fraudsters have developed numerous methods of attracting unsuspecting people to fraudulent schemes. Memecoins, a type of cryptocurrency that usually becomes popular due to social media hype, are growing rapidly in this environment.
Furthermore, this is a reminder of vigilance on the part of investors. With the proliferation of online scams, people should be extra careful in scrutinizing any endorsement of cryptocurrency by checking the official sources and being very careful about posts from celebrity accounts that may seem out of character or suspicious.
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FAQs
How did Dean Norris’s account get compromised?
Dean Norris’s X account was compromised by scammers promoting a memecoin called DEAN. The scammers posted information that was misleading saying that Dean was launching his own crypto.
What has Dean Norris spoken about the hacking?
On his video response, Norris said that he had been hacked and added that the memecoin was “a complete fake scam.” He voiced frustration with his detractors, who accused him of something that happened outside of his control.
To what extent did the meme coin DEAN spike before falling?
The DEAN meme coin hit its high with a market capitalization of approximately $8.43 million before declining more than 96% after confirmation that it is indeed a scam.
Is this the first time Dean Norris has ever been hacked?
No, it is the second time Norris’s account has been hacked to promote cryptocurrency. He was hacked back in September 2024 when his account was compromised to endorse another fake token known as $SHRADER.
