British Hacker Ordered to Repay $5.4M Following Twitter Crypto asset Scam
A man from Britain has been instructed to reimburse £4.1 million, approximately $5.4 million, in Bitcoin following one of the most notorious crypto scams that has ever occurred on Twitter. This scam entailed the takeover of accounts belonging to some of the most famous personalities globally. UK prosecutors successfully obtained a civil recovery order to confiscate 42 Bitcoin, alongside various other digital assets linked to this fraudulent activity.
A Cyber Intrusion Targeting Prominent Figures on Twitter
Joseph James O’Connor, the hacker from Liverpool, pleaded guilty in the United States last year. He was charged with offenses including wire fraud, computer hacking, and extortion. In July 2020, he and his associates successfully seized control of over 130 Twitter accounts.
Man who hacked Barack Obama and Jeff Bezos ordered to hand over £4million worth of BTC.
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https://t.co/7ciEWH1Jq9 pic.twitter.com/FckqXI0fTh
— Crown Prosecution Service (@CPSUK) November 17, 2025
The list of victims resembled a roll call of global influence; names such as Barack Obama, Elon Musk, Joe Biden, and Kim Kardashian were just a few involved. The scammers exploited these accounts to promote a bogus Bitcoin giveaway, claiming they would double any crypto asset sent to a specified digital wallet address.
The Value of the Appropriated Crypto Increased Over Time
When the attack occurred, the total of pilfered Bitcoin was valued at approximately $794,000, or £629,000. However, due to the increase in Bitcoin’s price over time, the value of that stolen cryptocurrency has ballooned significantly.
By the time the UK court issued the recovery order, the assets had escalated to over £4 million. Though the UK did not pursue criminal charges against O’Connor, they sought to recover the funds through a civil case under the Proceeds of Crime Act. A trustee will now manage the sale of the confiscated crypto asset and ensure the funds are returned to public control.
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The Scam Uncovered Larger Vulnerabilities
The hacking incident was not solely about monetary gain. It highlighted how rapidly high-profile social media accounts can be manipulated to become powerful instruments for financial deceit. These were some of the most prominent figures in politics, technology, and entertainment.
This allowed the scam to achieve extensive reach in a remarkably short timeframe. The event acted as a wake-up call for social media platforms and served as a reminder to crypto asset users to remain extremely vigilant against internet promises that appear too good to be true.
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What Lies Ahead for the Funds and the Case
With the order established, the focus shifts to how effectively the UK government can reclaim the assets. It will also be significant to observe if further incidents like this are addressed through civil measures.
The ability to trace cryptocurrency across borders and legally confiscate it is still developing, and this case could shape future recovery methods.
A Major Lesson in a Rapidly Evolving Technological and Criminal Landscape
The reality that Joseph James O’Connor is now liable for $5.4 million after taking advantage of some of the most prominent Twitter accounts illustrates the perilous intersection of cybercrime and cryptocurrency. It highlights that regulatory bodies are discovering innovative methods to combat these issues, even if they must extend beyond conventional legal frameworks to do so.
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Key Takeaways
- A UK hacker must reimburse $5.4 million in Bitcoin after deceiving users through celebrity Twitter profiles.
- The fraud utilized compromised accounts such as Elon Musk and Barack Obama to promote fraudulent BTC giveaways.
- Initially, the pilfered Bitcoin was valued at $794,000, but its worth later surged to over $5 million.
- UK authorities pursued a civil recovery order to retrieve the stolen digital currency rather than filing criminal charges.
- The incident highlighted the potential for social media to be exploited for extensive digital currency scams within minutes.
The post British Hacker Must Repay $5.4M After Twitter Crypto Scam appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
