Fake Ripple Account Lures 528K Views with Fraudulent Airdrop Promotion. Fox News Journalist Accidentally Quotes Deceptive Tweet, Ignites Controversy on Social Media.
In a startling turn of events, a fake Ripple account managed to attract substantial attention by promoting a fraudulent XRP Airdrop on social media. The misleading post claimed that Coinbase had relisted XRP and was planning a special free XRP giveaway to show appreciation to the XRP community. Surprisingly, Fox News journalist Charles Gasparino unknowingly quoted the scam tweet, drawing over 528K views to the deceptive content.
Gasparino responded to the misleading message from the fraudulent account known as RippleXRP on Twitter, surprised by Ripple’s repeated warnings that XRP and Ripple are not related. Even though a few people pointed out that the tweet was a fraud, it was still accessible as of this writing.
The site saw a significant increase in views after Gasparino’s post spread swiftly. Sharp-eyed netizens quickly identified the post’s fraud, and they lambasted the writer for using a fake identity. Mr. Huber, an XRP influencer, even went so far as to call Gasparino the “greatest laughing stock” in Fox News history. Another Twitter user mockingly praised Gasparino’s carelessness in criticizing Ripple while unintentionally supporting a fake tweet.
Ripple CTO Speaks Out
Amidst the unfolding drama, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, stepped in to defend Gasparino. He expressed his concerns about the difficulty of distinguishing fake Twitter accounts from genuine ones. Schwartz lamented the absence of a reliable way to identify authentic accounts to prevent people from falling prey to misinformation and scams like this one.
“It’s too bad there’s no way to tell which accounts are authentic and which aren’t. Then people wouldn’t get fooled by nonsensical misinformation like this,” Schwartz lamented.
Scammers have increasingly been exploiting verified accounts, as the blue checkmark was previously seen as a sign of authenticity. However, Elon Musk’s takeover resulted in the removal of this indicator, leaving users more vulnerable to deceptive accounts.
Ripple has been actively warning its followers about fraudulent accounts and fake executive profiles promoting fake “XRP Giveaways” or “XRP Airdrops.” They emphasized that neither Ripple nor its executives would ever request to send funds anywhere.
Furthermore, David Schwartz personally addressed this matter, warning users about fraudsters preying on good news regarding Ripple’s legal disputes with US regulators to trick and con unwary people. No valid airdrops, freebies, or special incentives were associated with the most recent court decision, according to Schwartz.
As the cryptocurrency community becomes more prominent, it is crucial for users to exercise caution and remain vigilant against scams and fraudulent schemes. The Gasparino incident serves as a stark reminder that even trusted sources can inadvertently promote deceptive content, underscoring the need for heightened awareness and scrutiny in the digital landscape.