X Uncovers Bribery Scheme for Restoring Banned Crypto Accounts

Summary: X social media, owned by Elon Musk, has revealed a bribery network attempting to reinstate suspended crypto accounts. Middlemen offered bribes to X employees on behalf of users banned for scams and market manipulation.

Bribery Network And Methods

  • The scheme involved intermediaries rather than direct user-staff contact.
  • Targeted accounts were linked to crypto fraud and manipulation.
  • Some reports connect the network to a larger cybercriminal group known as "The Com."

The Scale And The Links

  • X and law enforcement are investigating the extent of the bribery attempts.
  • No specific details on the number of staff approached or accounts reinstated due to bribes.
  • Similar tactics reported against other online platforms.

Legal Action And Internal Review

  • X has initiated legal proceedings against individuals connected to the network.
  • The platform is enhancing internal audits to prevent employee collusion.
  • Investigations are ongoing with no public filings yet.

Numbers And Context

  • X has suspended approximately 335 million abusive accounts recently to combat scams.
  • Industry reports highlight significant losses from crypto phishing and fraud, though not directly linked to this bribery case.

What This Means For Users

  • Main risk: reinstated scam accounts could spread phishing links and fraud if internal controls fail.
  • X is actively working to prevent harm by pursuing legal action and tightening account approval processes.