A 17-year-old in Tampa, Florida, has been arrested in connection with the massive Twitter hack that hijacked dozens of high-profile accounts
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A 17-year-old in Tampa, Florida, was arrested on Friday in connection with the massive Twitter hack earlier this month in which dozens of high-profile accounts were hijacked as part of a cryptocurrency scam.
Hillsborough State Attorney Andrew Warren filed 30 charges against the 17-year-old, Graham Clark, describing him as the "mastermind" behind the hack.
"These crimes were perpetrated using the names of famous people and celebrities, but they're not the primary victims here," Warren said in a press release. "This 'Bit-Con' was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country, including here in Florida. This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard, and we will not stand for that."In a press conference, Warren said that Clark was not facing federal charges at this point and that the state was handling prosecution because Florida law allows more flexibility when prosecuting minors. WFLA first reported on the arrest.
Clark was charged with one count of organized fraud over $50,000, 17 counts of communications fraud over $300, one count of fraudulent use of personal information over $100,000 or 30 or more victims, 10 counts of fraudulent use of personal information, and one count of accessing a computer or electronic device without authority.The
The compromised accounts then tweeted that they were feeling "generous" and would match bitcoin donations. The DOJ said that generated more than 400 transfers to the scammers' cryptocurrency wallet worth more than $100,000.
Complaints said victims of the hack included former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Michael Bloomberg, Floyd Mayweather, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West, Apple, Uber, and the cryptocurrency exchanges KuCoin, Coinbase, Gemini, and Binance. The DOJ said more than 100 accounts were compromised.
Warren said Clark was "not an ordinary 17-year-old" and called the hack a "highly sophisticated attack on a magnitude not seen before." He also said that the hack "could have destabilized financial markets" or "undermined AmericanClark's mother told NBC News on Friday that she believes her son is innocent.
"I believe he didn't do it. I've spoken to him every day... I'm devastated," she told NBC
A representative for Warren's office said Clark had not yet been assigned an attorney, according to their records.
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