- Fraudulent Activity via YouTube Tutorial Ad - Loss of 0.39199965 ETH -
I am reporting a fraudulent activity involving a deceptive YouTube paid ad tutorial that led to the loss of 0.39199965 ETH from my wallet. The details of the incident are as follows:
1. YouTube Video Information:
◦ Channel: Todd Technics
◦ Video Title: How to use ChatGPT capabilities to create Smart Contracts | Step-by-step Guide (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec76loNLJ-w)
◦ The video appeared as a paid ad on YouTube, making it seem credible and trustworthy. It purportedly provided guidance for creating and deploying a smart contract. Its detailed instructions and numerous comments (likely from fake accounts) reinforced this impression.
2. Incident Details:
◦ I followed the video instructions to deploy a contract using the provided code and funded it with 0.39199965 ETH.
◦ Shortly after initiating the contract, all the funds were automatically withdrawn to the address: 0xd789D807d4F272289F766503DA119d553d13797C.
3. Evidence of Fraud:
◦ The address 0xd789D807d4F272289F766503DA119d553d13797C is the primary recipient of stolen funds from multiple transactions, as visible on Etherscan. This suggests repeated scams targeting multiple victims.
◦ The contract that I have created is 0xf023aE708c5c1b99e46853691B2741AfF2fe2aa2
◦ Analysis of Etherscan data shows that similar suspicious withdrawals have been made to the same wallet, likely from other victims who followed the same or similar fraudulent tutorials.
◦ Comments on the YouTube video appear fabricated, as 90% of accounts were created on the same day (10/11/2022), further proving the intent to deceive.
◦ Blockchain proof via Etherscan or BscScan shows funds moving directly to the scammer's wallet.
4. Impact:
◦ I have lost 0.39199965 ETH (approx. $1420 at the time), which represents a significant financial loss.
◦ The ad placement on YouTube falsely reinforced the video's legitimacy, misleading viewers into believing it was credible.
◦ This is a clear case of fraud targeting individuals interested in blockchain development.
Action Requested: I kindly request that Chainabuse investigates this wallet address and adds it to any blacklist or warning database to prevent further victims. If possible, I would also appreciate guidance on whether recovery of funds is feasible or additional actions I can take.