MetaMask Issues Warning Following $650K iCloud Phishing Scam

The DeFi wallet is advising users to disable iCloud backups to prevent future scams

article-image

Source: Shutterstock

share

key takeaways

  • The wallet app is asking users to disable iCloud backups for MetaMask by going into Settings > Profile > iCloud > Manage Storage > Backups
  • MetaMask’s response has drawn criticism from community members

Crypto wallet MetaMask issued a warning advising users to disable their iCloud backups following an exploit of Apple’s service in an estimated $650,000 phishing scam.

The DeFi wallet provider said Sunday users who have iCloud enabled for iPhone application data were susceptible to hackers because the backups include their password-encrypted MetaMask vault.

“If your password isn’t strong enough and someone phishes your iCloud credentials, this can mean stolen funds,” MetaMask tweeted.

The company did not immediately return a request for comment.

In one such phishing attack, hackers drained an estimated $650,000 from NFT investor Domenic Iacovone’s OpenSea account, including several Mutant Ape Yacht Club collectibles, on April 14.

Loading Tweet..

“Got a phone call from Apple, literally from Apple (on my caller Id) called it back because I suspected fraud and it was an Apple number,” Iacovone tweeted. “So I believed them, they asked for a code that was sent to my phone and two seconds later my entire MetaMask was wiped.”

MetaMask’s response has drawn criticism from community members who argue the backup feature used in iCloud should either be disabled or made tougher for hackers seeking a way into users’ digital wallets.

Loading Tweet..

MetaMask parent ConsenSys in February said it was looking to leverage NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as a means to onboard more users to its digital wallet while building out a white-label NFT platform.

While efforts are being made on that front, critics argue cases like Iacovone’s demonstrate ConsenSys’ need to improve security if it aims to bring on the “next wave” of wallet users.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

  • Blockworks Daily: The newsletter that helps thousands of investors understand crypto and the markets, by Byron Gilliam.
  • Empire: Start your morning with the top news and analysis to inform your day in crypto.
  • Forward Guidance: Reporting and analysis on the growing intersection of crypto and macroeconomics, policy and finance.
  • 0xResearch: Alpha directly in your inbox. Market highlights, data, degen trade ideas, governance updates, token performance and more.
  • Lightspeed: Built for Solana investors, developers and community members. The latest from one of crypto’s hottest networks.
  • The Drop: For crypto collectors and traders, covering apps, games, memes and more.
Tags

Upcoming Events

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Research

article-image

Luke Barwikowski took to Twitter to raise awareness about the threats against him and his family

article-image

David Chaum’s ecash in the 90s offers insights into balancing priorities in DeFi today

article-image

The forthcoming stablecoin was praised by BitGo’s Mike Bleshe as an advancement in “institutional-ready digital assets”

article-image

Chronicle’s Niklas Kunkel talked to Blockworks about the raise and why he’s prioritizing research

article-image

Sponsored

DESK isn’t just another trading platform — it’s redefining what’s possible in on-chain trading

article-image

The real strength of tailored AMMs might lie in their capacity to cultivate deeper loyalty and engagement within niche communities