Fake Banksy NFT Sold Through Artist's Website For $336,000 (bbc.com) 39
A hacker has returned $336,000 to a British collector after he tricked him into buying a fake NFT advertised through the artist's official website. The BBC reports: A link to an online auction for the NFT was posted on a now-deleted page of banksy.co.uk. The auction ended early after the man offered 90% more than rival bidders. The Banksy fan who got duped says he thought he was buying the world-famous graffiti artist's first ever NFT. The man who is in his 30s and wanted to remain anonymous explained over Twitter direct messages that he suspects Banksy's site was hacked, and that he was the victim of an elaborate scam. He says the hacker returned all the money except for the transaction fee of around 5,000 pounds on Monday evening.
"It does seem to be some hack of the site. I confirmed the URL on PC and mobile before bidding. I only made the bid because it was hosted on his site. When the bid was accepted I immediately thought it was probably fake," he said. Banksy's team did not respond to questions about how his site was compromised but said: "The artist Banksy has not created any NFT artworks." The buyer suspects the person who alerted him and others to the Banksy NFT sale may have been the hacker themselves.
"It does seem to be some hack of the site. I confirmed the URL on PC and mobile before bidding. I only made the bid because it was hosted on his site. When the bid was accepted I immediately thought it was probably fake," he said. Banksy's team did not respond to questions about how his site was compromised but said: "The artist Banksy has not created any NFT artworks." The buyer suspects the person who alerted him and others to the Banksy NFT sale may have been the hacker themselves.
same as real thing (Score:3)
But, how exactly is one NFT consisting of an URL different from another NFT with the same contents?
And besides, what's a NFT worth if you're not on whatever money laundering scheme that NFT is for?
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And besides, what's a NFT worth if you're not on whatever money laundering scheme that NFT is for?
Why is a limited numbered run of something worth more than the rest of the run? Because some people say they are. Nothing special about it. They're worth what people think they're worth.
But, how exactly is one NFT consisting of an URL different from another NFT with the same contents?
My understanding is that the NFT itself is more or less the certificate of authenticity/ownership. The difference would be the same as with the limited run example. Why is 1 out of 10 worth mo
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That sentence contradicts itself. An N numbered run has N copies with probably an AP leading. There is no "rest of the run".
Some people want low numbered copies of a run. Especially true of prints as the difference between #1 and #500 is visible.
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But, how exactly is one NFT consisting of an URL different from another NFT with the same contents?
It is not. You get bragging rights on your specially branded URL though!
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SHHH! You're giving the secret away.
LOL! (Score:2)
Re:LOL! (Score:5, Interesting)
LOL indeed. A fake Banksy NFT sold through a hacked webpage on his official site is the most Banksy thing ever. The buyer needs to hold on to this one; it's essential priceless.
Banksy should send the buyer a postcard confirming that the buyer holds the one true fake.
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You may be onto something. An "NFT" with a connection to Banksy that has made international news headlines ... in the crazy world of NFT valuations, that's probably a couple of hundred thousand dollars right there.
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It's first faked NFT of Banksy - ultimate value, that could have been resold for much more, than $336.000.
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Given he eventually only paid $5k for it, it's basically a bargain.
Shit, it's worth him paying another $5k to Banksy for a 'confirmed fake' certificate.
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Or stay half expense, given the statement of "no NFTs by Banksy". Lucky guy has it all.
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The webpage wasn't hacked. It was just an advertisement that was micro-targeted. And of course, the idiot that bought it didn't have an ad-blocker.
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Only the shredder conveniently stopped halfway and the end result was worth more than what it was purchased for.
Banksy is just a commercial artist
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Banksy is just a commercial artist
You say that, but he has no way of profiting from the anonymous street art that he is most famous for. Owners of buildings that Banksy has painted on frequently remove the wall/surface and sell his art for 6 figures - Banksy doesn't see a penny of that.
https://www.nottinghampost.com... [nottinghampost.com]
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Banksy's net worth is $50M.
What's the real crime here? (Score:3, Insightful)
A dumb asshat spent more than most hard-working people would make in a decade (no doubt earned on other people's backs) on some worthless computer bits (that's one way you can tell - no sane person who might've spent a decade saving up for it at an honest job would've spent it this way), that seems much worse than a little website defacement to me.
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You're supposed to embrace NFT, not call it a fraud. You know, like crypto, advertising, political parties, religion and so on.
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Re: What's the real crime here? (Score:1)
Ch-Ching (Score:2)
With all the news articles covering this story, it must have skyrocketed in value! It's probably worth double the cost price now. Good investment.
Feel bad for the guy (Score:5, Funny)
It's not everyday you go to buy nothing, but later realise the nothing you bought was fake.
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It must really suck to buy a scam object, only to realize that it's a fake scam.
Whew! (Score:3)
For a moment there, I thought my Wanksy NFT might be a fake.
Buying an object signed 'Wanksy' didn't ring a bel (Score:2)
Anyone could have spotted this one.
Of unrelated curiosity.... (Score:1)
If you're the buyer: Refuse the refund (Score:2)
Reverse the contract? Are you nuts? You are currently holding the most valuable and rarest NFT in existence. The only Banksy nft in existance today, and probably EVER, that is a fake, but being sold by the legitimate webpage.
It doesn't get rarer than that! And isn't that after all what this all is about? Who cares who made it?
NFT ? Fake (Score:1)
In the shite world of art (Score:2)
A fake Banksy NFC is probably worth money as a form of art in itself. Look! I got the first take Banksy NFC! That's a collector.
Also, knowing Banksy and the stupid world of "modern" art, I bet he sold the fake NFC itself, and the fake sale was the piece of art.
Official Site? (Score:2)
Bubbles (Score:2)