UK Minister's X Account Hacked, Government Officials Become New Targets of Cryptocurrency Scam
On Tuesday, multiple media outlets reported that the X account of UK Minister Lucy Powell was hacked, with criminals using a fake "House of Commons" cryptocurrency to carry out fraud. The hackers posted multiple messages on her verified account, claiming that "$HCC" is a "human-centric digital currency".
Powell's X account has nearly 70,000 followers, and some posts even included the House of Commons logo, increasing the credibility of the scam. Powell's office stated that they took immediate action to lock the account and delete the deceptive posts after discovering the violations.
This attack continues the pattern of high-profile account hacks targeting public figures. Earlier this year, BBC reporter Nick Robinson also experienced a similar attack, where hackers used his account to promote a fake cryptocurrency called "$Today".
In addition, Luke Nolan, a senior researcher at digital asset management company CoinShares, believes this hacking incident is a traditional "pump and dump" scam.
Scammers create worthless cryptocurrencies, artificially inflate their prices to lure others into investing, and then sell shares for profit before the price crashes. Fortunately, although the scam targeted the X account of a well-known government official, the scammers only attracted 34 transactions, making a profit of about £225.
According to an Action Fraud report, incidents of social media and email account hacks have surged to a total of 35,343 since the beginning of 2024. In light of this, experts advise people not to click on unauthorized website links or emails lightly.
In summary, this hacking incident highlights the importance of cybersecurity, as even well-known public figures are not immune to cybercriminals' grasp. With the popularity of cryptocurrencies and digital assets, strengthening personal account security is urgently needed. At the same time, we hope the government and relevant agencies can implement stronger protective measures to jointly build a solid cybersecurity defense.
What are your thoughts on similar hacking incidents? Would you track any potential investment opportunities with a speculative mindset? Leave your comments in the discussion section!
