Scam Strikes Again: Minister’s Account Hijacked for Fake Cryptocurrency

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On a fine Tuesday morning, UK Government Minister Lucy Powell found herself the unwitting star of a most bizarre drama: her X account was hijacked, all for the glory of a “House of Commons” digital currency, or as it is known in the underworld, a cryptocurrency scam. And, oh, the plot thickens!

Hackers Present Fake Government Coin with a Big Smile

The cyber marauders didn’t hold back—using Powell’s verified account, they posted enthusiastically about $HCC, proclaiming it to be “a people-powered digital currency putting people’s power to the blockchain.” A noble cause, if not entirely fictitious. Truly, what is government without a bit of blockchain fantasy? 💸

With nearly 70,000 followers in tow, Powell’s digital presence was a prime target for the tricksters. And to ensure legitimacy (because why would anyone doubt them?), they even slapped on the official House of Commons logo. As one does. The scam smelled like a freshly baked lie! 😏

Once the good folks in Powell’s office got wind of the attack, they swung into action, securing the account faster than you can say “delete post” and putting an end to the madness. But who’s to say what might have been had they been slower to act? A government-backed coin? A future for all? 🤷‍♂️

A Long-Standing Tradition of Big Names Getting Hacked

This hack is but the latest in a series of high-profile takeovers. Earlier this year, BBC’s own Nick Robinson fell victim to a similar scheme. His account, too, was used to promote a fake cryptocurrency called “$Today.” Nothing like a little digital ‘Today’ to make you feel like tomorrow’s dreams are possible—unless you’re the one getting scammed. 😅

Nick, bless him, clicked on what seemed to be a perfectly reasonable email from the platform itself. Guess what? It was a Trojan horse. And suddenly, his account was the new home for shady coins and spurious investments.

Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell has had her X account hacked and is promoting a House of Commons cryptocurrency

— Daniel Green (@DanGreenJourno) April 15, 2025

‘Pump and Dump’ at Its Finest

Enter Luke Nolan, who, with all the finesse of a seasoned hacker-buster, recognized the scam for what it was: a classic “pump and dump” operation. The scammers worked their sleazy magic by inflating the price of a completely worthless cryptocurrency, getting a few unsuspecting souls to buy in, and then cashing out before anyone noticed the air was full of nothing but hot air.

And though Powell’s hacked account had a certain air of officialdom, it still couldn’t save the scheme. In the end, the scam only managed to get a measly 34 transactions, with the hackers pocketing a laughable £225. I mean, come on, surely they could do better than that with the House of Commons seal at their disposal? 😂

The Hackers’ Toolkit: Email Links and Passwords Oh My!

According to Action Fraud, there’s been a recent surge in account hacking—because who doesn’t love a little digital chaos? With 35,343 reported cases this year, experts suspect it all starts with an innocent-looking email that lures victims into clicking links to fake websites. That’s where passwords get swiped, and the rest is just scam history.

Minister’s X account hacked to promote crypto scam

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) April 15, 2025

Sometimes, though, the scammers don’t even need to bother with emails. They can buy up your credentials from a data breach sale and go straight to work. A few hours later, they have themselves a fake cryptocurrency, and they’re off to the races. Fast and furious, like a digital version of grand larceny.

The UK Parliament is apparently taking cybersecurity seriously (finally!). They’ve got some advice for the masses—set up two-step verification and use random, impossible-to-guess passwords. But when it comes to their own practices? Sorry, they’re keeping that on the down-low. 😜

But fear not, good citizens, for Lucy Powell remains on the case. Despite all this internet mischief, she is still leading the House of Commons, bringing legislative order to the chaos of the world—or at least trying to. Because surely, what could be more orderly than digital currencies, right?

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2025-04-17 02:15