USDC issuer Circle issues warning about hacked executive account

Stablecoin issuer Circle has warned its community about a fake USD Coin (USDC) airdrop on the Twitter account of its chief strategy officer and head of global policy, Dante Disparte.

In a March 22 statement, Circle wrote that any links to offers were scams, adding that a scammer took over Disparte’s account. CEO Jeremy Allaire corroborated the firm’s statement.

Circle added that:

“We are investigating the situation and taking action accordingly.”

Hacked account used to promote fake USDC compensation

Disparte’s hacked account was used to promote a fake USDC airdrop that the scammers said would be a “one-time bonus” for holders of the stablecoin during the depeg.

The malicious player linked to a phishing website designed to steal crucial data or tokens of unsuspecting individuals.

Part of the message tweeted by the hacker includes:

“We are pleased to announce that we will be distributing a one-time bonus of USDC to all existing holders. This bonus is our way of thanking you for your continued support and trust in USDC… We know that stability is key when it comes to digital currencies, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to maintain the stability of USDC.”

It was unclear if Disparte had gained control of the account as of press time because some of the hacker’s tweets had been deleted.

Earlier in the month, USDC lost its $1 peg after a banking crisis that led to the failure of crypto-friendly banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank.

While the stablecoin has since regained its peg, crypto investors’ confidence in USDC remains low. Its supply has declined by around 15% in the last 30 days, according to CryptoSlate’s data.