TLDR Input Output Group (IOG) told users to avoid its official YouTube channel after it was compromised. The hijacked channel livestreamed a suspected AI-manipulated video of Cardano founder
Input Output Group has told its users to stay away from its official YouTube channel. The warning came after the channel began livestreaming a video that appears to be an AI-manipulated clip of Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson.
The stream was made to look like an official Project Catalyst town hall. Project Catalyst is a community-driven fund that supports Cardano development projects.
The livestream ran for close to two hours before it was flagged. During that time, it promoted a crypto giveaway scheme.
The suspected deepfake video showed a Hoskinson lookalike promising to “double your wealth.” Viewers were pointed toward a QR code to take part in the offer.
This kind of scam is common on hijacked accounts. Scammers often use AI tools to recreate a public figure’s voice and face to build trust.
The goal is usually to get victims to send crypto to a wallet address, believing it will be matched or returned at double the amount. In reality, funds sent this way are typically lost.
Input Output Group posted a warning on its official X account on Friday. The company urged people not to interact with the YouTube channel until further notice.
The statement told users to avoid clicking any links shown during the stream. It also told them not to send funds or share personal information.
IOG did not say how the channel was compromised. The company has not confirmed when it expects to regain full control.
Cointelegraph reached out to Input Output Group for comment on the incident. A response had not been shared publicly at the time of reporting.
This is not the first time a crypto-related YouTube channel has been used to push a fake giveaway. Hijacked channels with large followings are often targeted because they carry built-in trust.
Attackers frequently use old, verified channels rather than creating new ones. A channel with a history and subscriber base looks more legitimate to viewers.
AI-generated video and audio have made these scams harder to spot. A manipulated clip can closely match a real person’s voice and mannerisms.
Project Catalyst is a known and active part of the Cardano ecosystem. That made it an effective cover story for the scam stream.
Users who regularly follow Cardano governance updates may have been more likely to trust the broadcast. This is part of why official channels are common scam targets.
IOG’s warning was direct and did not include additional detail about the scope of the breach. The company focused its message on stopping further harm.
As of Friday, the channel’s status had not been fully addressed by IOG. The warning to avoid the channel remained in effect.
No information has been released about how many viewers interacted with the stream or the QR code. The situation remains under review by the company.
The post Cardano’s IOG Warns Users After YouTube Channel Hijacked appeared first on Blockonomi.
