Alert: Account Breached – UK House Leader’s X Hacked to Push ‘Commons Coin’

Cybersecurity concerns are escalating globally as prominent figures and institutions become frequent targets of crypto-related hacks. In a notable case, British Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell experienced a concerning breach of her verified X (formerly Twitter) account. The hackers exploited her platform to promote a fraudulent digital currency known as the “House of Commons Coin (HCC).” This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of crypto scams targeting both users and public trust.

### Hackers Exploit Political Accounts to Push Crypto Scams

Hackers have demonstrated a growing preference for co-opting high-profile accounts globally to lend credibility to scams. Lucy Powell’s compromised account, with its 70,000 followers, became an inadvertent vehicle for spreading misinformation about HCC—a purportedly “community-driven digital currency empowering blockchain adoption.” The posts featured official branding from the House of Commons, adding a false veneer of legitimacy. Although quickly removed after intervention from Powell’s office, this incident underscores the dangers posed by cyber attackers leveraging authoritative accounts.

This is far from an isolated case. Political figures across the globe have become frequent victims of such schemes. In February, Argentine Congressman José Luis Espert’s X account was hacked to promote a fabricated token named “$LIBRA V2.” Released with claims of bolstering Argentina’s economy, the token ultimately mirrored earlier scams, including one promoted by President Javier Milei’s party. Similarly, accounts of leaders like the Philippines’ former Vice President Leni Robredo have been weaponized, reflecting the international scope of this malicious trend in exploiting blockchain’s hype.

### How Crypto Hacks Target User Trust Worldwide

Crypto scams thrive on trust, which is exactly what hackers manipulate when they access accounts belonging to respected political, social, or even tech leaders. In Powell’s case, her recognized authority made her X account an ideal venue for broadcasting fabricated claims surrounding blockchain advancement. The purpose of such campaigns is often to lure unsuspecting investors into “pump-and-dump” schemes, where perpetrators spike a token’s value temporarily before cashing out, leaving buyers stranded with worthless assets.

This practice has been magnified through a series of incidents over the past years. In July 2020, hackers orchestrated one of the most alarming breaches in social media history by taking over prominent U.S. accounts, including those of Barack Obama, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos. They used these verified profiles to advertise fake Bitcoin giveaways—a common ploy where trust in high-profile figures is exploited for financial gain. A similar incident targeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s account in 2021, falsely declaring Bitcoin’s adoption as legal tender in India.

### Strengthening Account Security Against Crypto Hacks

The rising frequency of crypto-related cyber incidents emphasizes the urgent need for improved digital security practices. Verified public accounts across platforms like X must implement robust protection measures, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and timely password updates. Additionally, the platforms themselves should invest heavily in identifying and mitigating suspicious activity before it impacts global audiences.

For less experienced investors, understanding the hallmarks of crypto scams is also crucial. Most fraudulent operations rely on unrealistic promises or endorsements seemingly backed by celebrities or government officials. Verifying claims through trusted blockchain analytics tools or consulting credible crypto news outlets like Decrypt can prevent individuals from falling victim to such scams.

Hope still exists that blockchain technology and cryptocurrency will navigate beyond these frequent safety incidents and regain public trust. However, this trust hinges upon both systemic changes in platform security and increased vigilance from users who continue to explore the evolving digital finance ecosystem. Until then, the broader crypto community must remain cautious of campaigns that exploit political profiles for deceitful profits.