The story behind the leaked Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) game trailer with a “Buy $BTC” watermark is starting to unravel as new information emerges. According to online investigator ZachXBT, the trailer was leaked by an individual known as Skenkir, who allegedly gained unauthorized access to an admin panel on YouTube. This allowed Skenkir to view the unlisted video before its planned release and share it on Twitter with the Bitcoin plug overlaid on top.
ZachXBT also revealed that Skenkir has been involved in over 40 high-profile SIM swap attacks, targeting notable figures such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, musician Steve Aoki, and crypto critic Peter Schiff. Alleged screenshots of online interactions from Skenkir were shared as evidence.
The leaked GTA 6 trailer, posted on Twitter by an anonymous account named “Gta6trailerleak,” caused a stir as it forced Rockstar Games, the franchise developer, to release the official trailer earlier than planned due to the modified, low-resolution leak.
After the leak, YouTube reportedly launched an internal investigation to determine if the leak originated from their backend. This raises concerns about breaches of contractual agreements by YouTube employees accessing content through unauthorized means.
This incident is not the first privacy and security issue faced by YouTube, as past reports have highlighted backdoor access to accounts dating back to 2013.
Both YouTube and Rockstar Games have yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.