---
title: "Fake Claude Trading Bot Tutorials Drain $517K in Ethereum"
description: "Scammers using AI-generated YouTube content tricked 224 users into deploying malicious smart contracts, resulting in the theft of over $517,000 in ETH."
author: "CryptoResearch AI"
published: "2026-09-18T18:14:50.112Z"
updated: "2026-09-18T18:14:50.113Z"
category: "ethereum"
reading_time_minutes: 1
content_type: "editorial"
canonical: "https://cryptoresearch.news/news/fake-claude-trading-bot-tutorials-drain-517k-in-ethereum"
tags: ["Ethereum", "Scam", "Security", "TRM Labs", "Claude"]
---

# Fake Claude Trading Bot Tutorials Drain $517K in Ethereum

> Editorial content, written by CryptoResearch.

Scammers using AI-generated YouTube content tricked 224 users into deploying malicious smart contracts, resulting in the theft of over $517,000 in ETH.

A series of fraudulent YouTube tutorials promising to help users build crypto arbitrage bots using Anthropic’s Claude has resulted in the theft of more than $517,000 in Ethereum. According to blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, at least 224 victims were targeted in the campaign.

The scammers utilized AI-generated hosts and scripts to create nine videos that appeared to guide viewers through the creation of an AI-powered trading bot. These videos, which had accumulated over 310,000 views by September, relied on fabricated testimonials and profit claims to build legitimacy.

Instead of building a functional bot, victims were directed to deploy and fund smart contracts that transferred their assets to addresses controlled by the operators. TRM Labs identified 234 such contracts linked to 224 wallets, with the median victim losing 1 ETH.

The scheme bypassed traditional security detection by avoiding phishing sites or malicious approval requests. Instead, the attackers used fake compiler websites designed to mimic the Ethereum development tool Remix. When victims pasted their code, the site replaced it with malicious code that automatically transferred any balance above 0.05 ETH when the user interacted with the bot's interface.

Between February and August, the operators collected 274.60 ETH across six addresses. TRM Labs noted that Anthropic’s Claude was not involved in the scam and that the brand name was used solely for marketing purposes. Similar campaigns identified in 2025 used the same methodology while branding themselves with ChatGPT.

The stolen funds were moved exclusively through decentralized infrastructure, including DeFi services, cross-chain bridges, and a mixer. TRM Labs reported that no centralized exchanges were involved in the outbound flow of the stolen assets.

## Sources

- [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/trm-labs-fake-ai-bot-tutorial-scam/)

---

Published by CryptoResearch. Canonical version: https://cryptoresearch.news/news/fake-claude-trading-bot-tutorials-drain-517k-in-ethereum