On January 26, Dean Norris posted a video on X confirming his account had been compromised. He labeled the memecoin “DEAN” a “complete, fake scam” and harshly criticized Reddit users for blaming him, saying, “Go f*** yourselves.”
The hackers’ posts included manipulated media, such as a photo of Norris holding a paper with the coin’s ticker and launch date, as well as a video seemingly endorsing the coin. Some speculate the video could have been an AI-generated deepfake or a misused Cameo clip. Norris, who is active on Cameo, denied any involvement.
The fraudulent scheme initially drove DEAN’s market cap to $8.43 million on January 25, according to DexScreener. However, the coin’s value plummeted by over 96%, with its market cap now below $60,000.
In a follow-up statement, Norris clarified he rarely uses X and doesn’t have a Telegram account. He only became aware of the hack after friends alerted him. Notably, this marks the second time Norris’ account has been hacked for cryptocurrency schemes. A similar incident in November linked his account to other high-profile hacks, including McDonald’s and Usher.
The incident highlights the growing threat of celebrity-targeted cyberattacks amid the rising use of artificial intelligence in scams.