The iconic heavy metal band Metallica, with a staggering 121 million album sales spanning 11 records, has recently been ensnared by cryptocurrency scammers. The group's official X account was infiltrated by malicious actors aiming to promote a bogus Solana-based meme coin dubbed METAL. These cybercriminals deceitfully advertised the fraudulent cryptocurrency as a "dynamic new token," falsely claiming it was launched in partnership with the renowned ticket sales and distribution company Ticketmaster.

The compromised account misleadingly announced that the METAL token would facilitate the purchase of merchandise and gifts at Metallica events and through their online platforms. This deceitful promotion included an alleged staking feature that promised Metallica fans the ability to earn rewards by holding the token. The elaborate scam aimed to exploit the band’s massive fan base by leveraging their trusted name and reputation.

This incident marks another unfortunate encounter with crypto fraudsters for Metallica. As reported by U.Today, the band previously had to publicly deny involvement in fraudulent Bitcoin and Ethereum giveaways. This earlier scam emerged following the release of their eagerly awaited album "72 Seasons," which marked Metallica's first full-length release in six years. During that episode, a fake livestream on YouTube falsely advertised a giveaway tied to the band, further showcasing the persistent and evolving threats posed by cybercriminals.

In the broader context of cryptocurrency scams, Metallica is not alone. The surge in popularity of celebrity-endorsed meme coins has provided fertile ground for scammers. Recently, the social media account of American rapper 50 Cent was similarly compromised to promote a fraudulent Solana token. These incidents underscore the increasing sophistication of cyber scams and the critical need for heightened vigilance among fans and followers to authenticate information from official and verified sources.