Fake X Influencers Used AI and War Content to Drive Six-Figure Crypto Scam Profits, ZachXBT Reports
TL;DR
ZachXBT said a coordinated network of more than 10 X accounts used fake or exaggerated war posts to attract millions of views before pushing crypto scams.
The accounts allegedly used AI to imitate prominent online figures, then pivoted into fake giveaways and a Feb. 22 Oramama pump-and-dump after engagement peaked.
Onchain evidence suggests six-figure profits, despite newer anti-bot measures on X, highlighting how fast coordinated deception can still outpace moderation.
Fake X influencer networks are no longer relying on crude spam to trap crypto users. What ZachXBT uncovered looks more like an engagement factory engineered for fraud. The onchain investigator said Monday that a coordinated group of X accounts used exaggerated or fabricated war and geopolitical posts to attract millions of views, then redirected that attention toward fake giveaways and pump-and-dump tokens. More than 10 linked accounts were identified, many allegedly bought with preexisting follower bases, giving the operation instant credibility and reach before the scam stage even began for unsuspecting users everywhere online today.
1/ I uncovered a coordinated network of 10+ accounts manufacturing viral panic about war and politics to drive traffic to crypto scams.
Strategy:
>Purchase accounts with followers
>Doompost multiple times per day
>Repost content from alt accounts
>Promote fake giveaway or scam… pic.twitter.com/uMjCSQUzwp
— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) March 23, 2026
How Viral Fear Became a Crypto Scam Funnel
The bait was not random. The network appears to have weaponized panic, spectacle and AI impersonation to manufacture trust at scale. According to ZachXBT’s findings, the accounts copied the style of prominent online personalities such as Mario Nawfal, using artificial intelligence to mimic familiar voices and posting relentless “doomposts” tied to wars or political shocks. Once engagement surged, the same accounts pivoted into token promotions and fraudulent giveaways. One example highlighted was a Feb. 22 pump-and-dump scheme involving a token called Oramama, pushed after the attention had already been harvested with startling efficiency across timelines.
That sequence matters because it turns ordinary virality into a distribution channel for financial crime. The scam did not depend on sophisticated code, but on social momentum and borrowed credibility. ZachXBT said large accounts in replies and quote posts were repeatedly fooled by the bait, unintentionally amplifying reach and helping the network spread scam links deeper into crypto timelines. Onchain evidence, he added, suggests the operation generated six-figure profits. He also warned that the same group had been farming engagement and may already be preparing another campaign using the same playbook across overlapping online communities.
The episode also exposes a weakness in platform defenses. Even with new anti-bot measures, coordinated deception can still scale faster than moderation. Last month, X product chief Nikita Bier announced stronger detection and removal tools for bots, along with user flags for AI-generated content. Yet the accounts identified by ZachXBT still managed to build traction through sensational posts before converting attention into scam attempts. He argued that manipulation of this kind should lead to bans and legal consequences, while urging users to examine recent posts and account histories before amplifying suspicious content further online now.
Filed under: News - @ March 23, 2026 12:29 pm