Matthew Perry’s X account has been hacked by scammers attempting to pull off a cryptocurrency fraud.
The account of the late Friends star, who died from a ketamine overdose aged 54 on October 28 2023, posted fake links directing users to make contributions to his foundation – with the links redirecting fans to a fraudulent site.
Perry’s account boasts 1.5million followers, with The Matthew Perry Foundation issuing a statement on Monday to warn of the scam and reveal they had regained control over his account.
Their post read: ‘We have received reports that Matthew’s official X page has been hacked and is directing users to a fraudulent site soliciting donations via cryptocurrency.
‘Please do not donate to this site or share the fraudulent posts on social media.
Matthew Perry’s X account has been hacked by scammers attempting to pull off a cryptocurrency fraud – four months after his tragic death at 54 (pictured 2022)
‘MatthewPerryFoundation.org is the only website associated with the foundation and we are only accepting donations through this site.’
An accompanying post read: ‘This is the only official Matthew Perry Foundation X account, and we will only ever post official Foundation communications from this account.
‘Please report imposter accounts, and do not submit donations through any channel other than http://MatthewPerryFoundation.org.’
Close friends of the late star set up the foundation in his name after his death, devoted to help those struggling with addiction.
Perry had talked openly for years about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, estimating that his rehab costs had totaled $9 million.
In announcing the foundation, a statement from the organization said: ‘The Matthew Perry Foundation is the realization of Matthew’s enduring commitment to helping others struggling with the disease of addiction.
‘It will honor his legacy and be guided by his own words and experiences and driven by his passion for making a difference in as many lives as possible,’ the statement announcing the foundation declared.’
The organization also cited a quote from Perry on their website, in his hope that he would be remembered for helping others struggling with addiction.
The account of the late Friends star (pictured 1997 as Chandler Bing), who died from a ketamine overdose aged 54 on October 28 2023 , posted fake links directing users to make contributions to his foundation – with the links redirecting fans to a fraudulent site
Perry’s account boasts 1.5million followers, with The Matthew Perry Foundation issuing a statement on Monday to warn of the scam and reveal they had regained control over his account
The quote reads: ‘When I die, I don’t want ‘Friends’ to be the first thing that’s mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that’s mentioned.
‘And I’m going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down.’
Perry died from the ‘acute effects of ketamine’ and drowning, his autopsy revealed – with the actor having similar quantities of ketamine in his system as a hospital patient under general anesthetic.
‘The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined the cause of death for 54-year-old actor Matthew Langford Perry as the acute effects of ketamine,’ the Los Angeles coroner’s office said.
‘Contributing factors in Mr Perry’s death include drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine (used to treat opioid use disorder). The manner of death is accident.’
Perry was found face-down in the hot tub which adjoins the swimming pool at his Los Angeles home at 4.17pm on October 28, stunning the world of showbiz and breaking the hearts of fans worldwide.
He had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy as treatment for depression, the medical examiner reported – but the last session was a week and a half before he died, and the ketamine is only in your system for three to four hours, which means it did not lead directly to his death.
Perry died from the ‘acute effects of ketamine’ and drowning, his autopsy revealed – with the actor having similar quantities of ketamine in his system as a hospital patient under general anesthetic (pictured 2017)
Perry published a memoir in 2022 titled ‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’ in which he openly talked about his battles with addiction
‘At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression,’ the medical examiner, Raffi Djabourian, concluded.
Perry’s blood ketamine levels were at 3,540 ng/ml in peripheral blood, and 3,271 ng/ml in central blood.
For a patient under general anesthetic, in a hospital, a blood ketamine level of 1,000 – 6,000 ng/ml would be normal, the medical examiner explained.
‘Drowning contributes due to the likelihood of submersion into the pool as he lapsed into unconsciousness; coronary artery disease contributes due to exacerbation of ketamine induced myocardial effects on the heart.
‘Buphrenorphine effects are listed as contributory, even though not at toxic levels, due to the additive respiratory effects when present with high levels of ketamine.’
He had no alcohol, cocaine, heroin, meth or fentanyl in his system.
He was declared dead at the scene and the medical examiner conducted the autopsy on October 29.
