To combat cryptocurrency scammers dropping deceptive links, Twitter will now automatically lock the unverified accounts that change their display name to Elon Musk. The measure is designed to combat the innumerable bots on Twitter that are imitating Musk’s (very active) Twitter profile to scam unknowing users in replies to his tweets.
If a user has a non-verified account that is not associated with a phone number, changing your display name to that of the SpaceX and Tesla CEO, will result in an immediate lock out. Twitter will then ask the user to pass a CAPTCHA test, as well as provide a phone number, to regain access.
“As part of our continuing efforts to combat spam and malicious activity on our service, we’re testing new measures to challenge accounts that use terms commonly associated with spam campaigns. We are continually refining these detections based on changes in spammy activity,” said a Twitter spokesperson.
Earlier this year, Twitter had said that it would try to reduce the number of crypto scams on its platform.
The company has declined to comment on whether the measure has been put in place for any other public figure’s Twitter account.
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