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High-profile Twitter accounts hijacked to tweet crypto scams

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Miguel A. Rodriguez
Miguel A. Rodriguez
14 September 2020
"Tough day for us at Twitter. We all feel terrible this happened."

Let’s break down what this tough day meant for Twitter. Earlier this week, many prominent accounts tweeted that any bitcoin sent to a specified link in the following 30 minutes will be sent back doubled. The message appeared on profiles of Elon Musk, former US President Obama, Mike Bloomberg, the presidential candidate Joe Biden, Uber, an unused Apple corporate account, and many more.

The problematic tweets got deleted within minutes after they were posted. 

In response, Twitter took measures to stop other official verified accounts to post, and disabled the account functions. 

According to CoinDesk, not only high-profile accounts were hacked, but also those belonging to cryptocurrencies and crypto influencers like Gemini, KuCoin, Ripple, Cash App, Coinbase, CoinDesk, and many more. 

The perpetrators' identities are unknown, but when the cyberattack took place, on Instagram appeared a profile that posted a message reading: "It was a charity attack. Your money will find its way to the right place." 

The crypto prices didn't budge over the event, and Bitcoin dropped only 0.1%, falling to $9,200. However, Twitter shares lost more than 4% in after-hours trading. According to specialists, such decline could leave the company's market cap $1 billion short.

Read more about the social media platforms on CAPEX.com!

Sources: marketwatch.com, bbc.com


This information/research prepared by Miguel A. Rodriguez does not take into account the specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular needs of any particular person. The research analyst primarily responsible for the content of this research report, in part or in whole, certifies that the views about the companies and their securities expressed in this report accurately reflect his/her personal views and consequently any person acting on it does so entirely at their own risk.The research provided does not constitute the views of KW Investments Ltd nor is it an invitation to invest with KW Investments Ltd. The research analyst also certifies that no part of his/her compensation was, is, or will be, directly, or indirectly, related to specific recommendations or views expressed in this report.The research analyst in not employed by KW Investments Ltd. You are encouraged to seek advice from an independent financial adviser regarding the suitability of the investment, under a separate engagement, as you deem fit that conforms to your specific investment objectives, financial situation, or particular financial needs before making a commitment to invest. The laws of the Republic of Seychelles shall govern any claim relating to or arising from the contents of the information/ research provided. 

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Miguel A. Rodriguez
Miguel A. Rodriguez
Financial Writer

Miguel worked for major financial institutions such as Banco Santander, and Banco Central-Hispano. He is a published author of currency trading books.