Bored Ape Yacht Club Phishing Ring
- Key Compromise
Between December 2021 and early 2022, a coordinated French phishing ring targeted high-value BAYC and MAYC NFT holders, stealing $2.5M+. Scammers posed as verified Discord members and created fake websites promising to 'animate' victims' Bored Ape NFTs. When victims connected wallets and approved transactions, their NFTs were immediately stolen and sold on OpenSea. The first victim, 'Dilly Dilly,' lost BAYC #237 (47 ETH/$178K) on December 13, 2021. Despite using Tornado Cash, the scammers made mistakes in withdrawal patterns. ZachXBT's August 2022 'Scammers in Paris' investigation used blockchain analysis and social media forensics to identify perpetrators Mathys and Camille.
Incident Details
- Type
- FRAUD
- Funds Lost
- $2.5M
- Status
- Partial recovery
ZachXBT's 'Scammers in Paris' investigation matched Telegram profile pictures to Twitter/Instagram accounts, identifying Mathys and Camille. French authorities arrested five individuals in October 2022. ZachXBT's research officially credited in court documents as initiating investigation. Assets partially recovered.