A post recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) claiming the launch of an “official crypto coin” and listing a contact address has been deleted after it was revealed to be the result of a hack.
A spokesperson for Labour MP Lucy Powell confirmed her personal X account was compromised earlier in the day. “Lucy Powell’s personal X account was hacked this morning. Steps were taken quickly to secure the account and remove misleading posts,” the spokesperson said.
The U.K. Parliament also addressed the incident, emphasizing its commitment to cybersecurity. “We take cyber security extremely seriously. We provide advice to users — including members — to make them aware of the risks and how to manage their digital safety, however we do not comment on specific details of our cyber security policies,” a parliamentary spokesperson stated.
Powell is the latest public figure to fall victim to hackers using high-profile accounts to promote fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. In February, BBC journalist Nick Robinson’s X account was also hacked, falsely claiming he was launching a digital currency tied to Radio 4’s Today program, which he co-hosts.
Similarly, in January, BBC presenter and former political editor Laura Kuenssberg’s X account was compromised. The attacker used it to promote so-called BBC “memecoins,” touting them as the potential “next big face of digital finance.”
Reporting contributed by Mason Boycott-Owen and Esther Webber.
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