NFT
Crypto Twitter rallied around an alleged cancer patient who tried to sell NFTs in an act of community goodwill yesterday, but it remained jaded after they turned out to be a scam artist who disappeared with the money.
It started when an account called Phoenix posted that they were a cancer patient and were trying to create NFTs using pixel art. The tweet was quickly picked up and shared by many crypto influencers who encouraged people to buy the NFTs and support the artist.
However, it was soon discovered by some Twitter users, including web3 artist Arcanic, that the account was simply reselling work by other artists, such as Snooow. Arcanic also stressed that the same account had been used to carry out similar tactics, such as claiming their wife had cancer and trying to get out of debt.
The Twitter account was deleted when the scam was widely discovered, but not before the NFT project raised about 63.5 ether ($119,000). The money was transferred to other wallets, according to crypto sleuth ZachXBT. He claimed that they may have been sent to crypto exchange OKX.
“We as a community came together to support someone with a heartbreaking story. For half a day it felt good and genuine again,” said a crypto person known as BenJammin who initially shared the NFT project.
“I’m tired of this shit, I joined this Web3 space because of the quest for knowledge, community and vibes. Now it is a cesspool of scammers,” they added.
Arcanic also weighed in, saying the ordeal had been “a gut punch to anyone trying to do some good in the space so full of drama and con artists. But I think we shouldn’t lose our empathy either.”