- Twitter hacker O’Connor, who stole around $1 million in cryptocurrency by taking over important accounts, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison.
- O’Connor hacked into the Twitter accounts of prominent figures such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kanye West, as well as major companies like Apple and Uber.
- Using these hacked accounts, the hacker was able to publish fake messages encouraging Twitter users to send Bitcoin and successfully collect money.
Twitter hacker O’Connor sentenced to 5 years in prison for stealing around $1 million in cryptocurrency by taking over important accounts.
Twitter Hacker Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Cryptocurrency Theft
A notorious hacker, known by the pseudonym PlugWalkJoe and identified as O’Connor, has been sentenced to 5 years in prison for his involvement in a major cryptocurrency theft on Twitter. In 2020, O’Connor managed to take control of several important Twitter accounts, including those of prominent individuals like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kanye West, and major companies like Apple and Uber. Using these hacked accounts, O’Connor orchestrated a scheme to defraud Twitter users by publishing fake messages that encouraged them to send Bitcoin, ultimately resulting in a theft of around $1 million in cryptocurrency.
Hacker’s Intrusion into Prominent Twitter Accounts
The hack took place in July 2020, when O’Connor successfully infiltrated the Twitter accounts of high-profile individuals and companies. This breach of security allowed him to gain control over the accounts and exploit them for his own financial gain. By posing as these influential figures and reputable companies, O’Connor was able to deceive Twitter users into believing that they were participating in legitimate cryptocurrency transactions.
Fraudulent Scheme and Financial Losses
Using the hacked accounts, O’Connor published fraudulent messages that urged Twitter users to send Bitcoin to specified addresses, promising significant returns on their investments. Unfortunately, many unsuspecting individuals fell victim to this scam and ended up losing substantial amounts of money. The total value of the stolen cryptocurrency amounted to approximately $1 million.
The severity of the crime and the significant financial losses incurred by the victims were emphasized by Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York. In his ruling, Judge Rakoff stated that the sentence of 5 years in prison was warranted given the impact of the hack and the resulting harm suffered by individuals who fell prey to the scam.
Legal Proceedings and Future Consequences
O’Connor was arrested in Spain one year after committing the hack and has been held in custody since then. Following the legal proceedings, he has been sentenced to 5 years in prison. Having already served 28 months of his sentence, O’Connor is expected to remain incarcerated for less than 3 more years.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of robust security measures in the digital realm, particularly in the cryptocurrency space. It highlights the vulnerability of even high-profile individuals and companies to cyberattacks and the need for constant vigilance to protect against such threats.
