Hacker Pleads Guilty Of Taking Over Sec’s X Account To Post Fake Bitcoin News

Hacker Eric Council Jr. pleaded blameworthy Monday to charges of conspiracy to perpetrate aggravated characteristic theft and entree instrumentality fraud aft he took complete nan SEC’s X narration successful January 2024. Once Council gained entree to nan account, his unnamed co-conspirators posted a doctored image, message, and clone quote by past SEC Chairman Gary Gensler saying Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETC) personification been approved, which caused nan currency’s worthy to spike overmuch than $1,000.

The 25-year-old Alabama resident had utilized a SIM-swapping onslaught to move a telephone number associated pinch nan @SEC narration to nan SIM insubstantial successful an iPhone he had purchased. After others obtained nan individual accusation of a personification pinch entree to nan account, Council printed disconnected a clone ID and utilized it to get AT&T to springiness him powerfulness of their number truthful that he could personification nan account’s betterment codes sent to his ain phone. The co-conspirators paid Council successful Bitcoin for his domiciled successful nan scheme.

Investigators recovered aft Council’s apprehension that he’d made immoderate premier searches, including: “What are nan signs that you are nether investigation by norm enforcement aliases nan FBI moreover if you personification not been contacted by them.”

Council is scheduled for sentencing connected May 16th and faces a maximum reward of 5 years successful prison.