Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform, has experienced explosive growth, reaching 20 million users. However, this rapid expansion has led to a surge in impersonation accounts. Bluesky is responding with policy changes, team expansion, and plans for improved identity verification, all while contrasting its approach with the paid verification models of competitors like X.
Warren Buffett, the renowned CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, has expressed concerns about impersonators using his name and likeness on social media to fraudulently endorse political candidates and investment opportunities. Buffett explicitly stated he does not support any political candidates or specific investment schemes, emphasizing that he is not even familiar with platforms like Instagram.
A criminal organization has been apprehended for allegedly using Brad Pitt’s identity to deceive women online and extract significant sums of money. The group, targeting fans with promises of romance and investment opportunities, is a stark reminder of the dangers of online impersonation.
The Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, was recently the victim of a social media scam. A fraudster impersonated the CJI on X (formerly Twitter), requesting money for a cab fare. The Supreme Court filed a complaint with Delhi Police after the incident went viral.
A retired senior executive of a Germany-based pharma company fell victim to a sophisticated fraud, losing ₹85 lakh to a gang that posed as CBI, customs, narcotics, and income-tax officers. The incident unfolded via Skype calls, with the fraudsters coercing the victim into transferring funds through a cheque to a company called ‘Rana Garments.’ Investigations are underway in Visakhapatnam, where the fraud occurred, and Delhi. HDFC Bank, where the fraudulent transactions took place, has also filed a police complaint.
A retired MNC director residing in Mumbai fell prey to a cyber fraud amounting to nearly Rs 25 crore. Fraudsters posing as police and CBI officers intimidated her, claiming she was under investigation for money laundering. The victim, a senior citizen, sold her and her mother’s shares and mutual fund investments, and even obtained a gold loan to pay the fraudsters over a two-month period. Despite attempts to retrieve her funds, she failed, prompting her to file a complaint with the Mumbai police. The cyber police branch initiated a probe, freezing 31 bank accounts connected to the fraud.
A former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer, Abigail Barlow, has been fined £100 for keeping her police uniform and equipment after resigning from the force in January 2023. Barlow, who worked for GMP for four-and-a-half years, resigned three days after being sentenced for repeated domestic abuse against her partner. She pleaded guilty to controlling and coercive behavior and was given a 26-week suspended sentence, unpaid work, and rehabilitation activities. In a subsequent misconduct hearing, GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson described Barlow’s actions as “incompatible with the role of police officer” and she was banned from the profession. During an investigation into an alleged incident involving a different partner, officers searched Barlow’s home and found police uniform and equipment, including a PAVA spray, a retractable baton, a high visibility TAC vest, and a utility belt. Barlow admitted that she knew she should have handed back the items but denied any intention to impersonate a police officer.
