My cousin Alex recently experienced a significant financial loss due to a cryptocurrency scam on Twitter. While scrolling his feed, he saw a tweet from what appeared to be the official account of a famous cryptocurrency influencer. The account advertised a “limited-time” investment opportunity, claiming investors could quickly multiply their crypto holdings through an exclusive automated trading system.

The influencer’s profile seemed genuine, complete with a verification badge and numerous followers. Convinced by the apparent authenticity and excitement in the comments, Alex followed the instructions provided, transferring approximately $2,000 worth of Bitcoin to a wallet address included in the tweet.

Unfortunately, after sending his investment, Alex waited anxiously but received nothing. Within hours, the original tweet was deleted, and the account vanished completely. He quickly realized he’d fallen for a fake account impersonating a well-known influencer, cleverly using a bought or hacked verified badge.

After investigating further, Alex discovered multiple warnings online about similar scams happening on Twitter. Scammers use stolen or purchased verified accounts to create trust and credibility, convincing followers to send crypto with promises of quick profits before disappearing without a trace.

This traumatic experience taught Alex—and those around him—to never trust social media investment opportunities blindly. Always verify information from multiple official sources, and avoid sending cryptocurrency based solely on social media promotions, regardless of how convincing they appear.