- Manta Network co-founder Kenny Li avoided a sophisticated phishing attack that used live recordings of familiar people on Zoom.
- The attackers tried to trick Li into downloading Malware through a fake Zoom update requiring a script file.
- Li believes the North Korean Lazarus Group was behind the attack, which has targeted others in the crypto community using similar tactics.
Kenny Li, co-founder of Manta Network, recently evaded what he describes as a highly sophisticated phishing attempt during a Zoom call. The attack featured video footage of people familiar to Li in what appeared to be an effort to convince him to download malicious software, according to Li’s April 17 post on X.
"I could see their legit faces. Everything looked very real. But I couldn’t hear them. It said my Zoom needs an update. But it asked me to download a script file. I immediately left," Li explained in his social media post. After growing suspicious, Li requested the person to verify their identity through a Telegram call, but they refused, deleted all messages, and blocked him.
Li shared screenshots of his conversation with the impersonator before the messages were deleted. In the exchange, Li suggested switching to Google Meet instead of continuing on Zoom. Speaking to Cointelegraph, Li noted that the video quality appeared authentic: "It didn’t seem AI-generated. The quality looked like what a typical webcam quality looks like." He believes the attackers used recordings of real team members and confirmed that legitimate accounts had been compromised.
Red Flags and Prevention Advice
Li warned other crypto community members to be cautious of unexpected download requests. "The biggest red flag will always be a downloadable. Whether it’s in the form of an update, an attachment, app, or anything else, if you need to download something in order to continue something with the person on the other side, don’t do it," he advised.
The Manta executive acknowledged how easily such attacks could fool busy crypto executives who regularly handle numerous messages and impromptu meeting requests. "These are hacks that play to your emotional connection and potentially mental fatigue," Li noted.
Similar Attacks Reported
Li wasn’t the only target of these sophisticated phishing attempts. A member of ContributionDAO shared a similar experience: "They also asked me to download Zoom via their link, and said that it’s only for their business. Even though I actually have Zoom on my computer, I couldn’t use it." When they suggested using Google Meet instead, the attackers refused.
Another crypto community member known as "Meekdonald" reported that a friend had fallen victim to the same tactic that Li managed to avoid. Li believes the North Korean state-backed Lazarus Group is responsible for these coordinated attacks targeting cryptocurrency executives and projects.
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