Crypto exec warns of ‘ELUSIVE COMET’ threat after losing 75% of assets

Key Points

  • Emblem Vault CEO Jake Gallen lost over $100,000 in digital assets after a suspicious Zoom meeting.
  • The scam was facilitated by a threat actor known as "ELUSIVE COMET" using sophisticated social engineering tactics.
  • Gallen was tricked into installing malware during a Zoom call, which led to the theft of his crypto assets.
  • Zoom's default settings allow remote access, which was exploited in this scam.
  • The threat actor, ELUSIVE COMET, operates under the guise of a legitimate venture capital firm, Aureon Capital.

Summary

Jake Gallen, CEO of Emblem Vault, recently fell victim to a sophisticated scam orchestrated by a threat actor known as "ELUSIVE COMET." During a Zoom interview with a seemingly legitimate YouTube personality, Gallen was tricked into enabling malware installation, leading to the loss of over $100,000 in Bitcoin and Ether from his digital wallets. The scam exploited Zoom's default settings that allow remote access, a feature which can be manipulated by attackers to gain control over a user's computer. Cybersecurity firm The Security Alliance (SEAL) has been tracking this campaign, noting that ELUSIVE COMET uses social engineering to deceive victims into installing malware. The threat actor also attempted to expand their reach by hacking into Gallen's X account to target other potential victims. This incident underscores the risks associated with video conferencing platforms and the need for heightened security measures in the crypto community.

cointelegraph
April 15, 2025
Crypto
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