A recent cyber breach targeting a senior UK government minister has reignited warnings about the growing threat of social media impersonation and cryptocurrency fraud.
Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central and Leader of the House of Commons, temporarily lost control of her verified X (formerly Twitter) account after online scammers hijacked it.
The attackers used her platform—boasting over 70,000 followers—to promote a fraudulent digital asset dubbed “$HCC,” allegedly standing for “House of Commons Coin.”
The scam posts, now deleted, falsely presented $HCC as a grassroots blockchain initiative and even included the official House of Commons crest—raising serious concerns about the misuse of government imagery to bolster credibility.
The incident occurred early Tuesday and was swiftly addressed by Powell’s team, who secured the account and purged all unauthorised content.
Nevertheless, the breach underscored how high-profile figures remain prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to exploit trust and visibility for financial gain.
Cybersecurity experts noted the incident fits the classic profile of a “pump and dump” scheme—a tactic where fraudsters create artificial hype around a worthless token, sell off their holdings at inflated prices, and disappear before victims realise the deception.
Luke Nolan of CoinShares commented: “This is a textbook crypto con. It’s all about visibility, trust, and speed. Fortunately, the impact here was minimal—just 34 transactions, amounting to roughly £225—due to rapid action from Powell’s office.”
Such incidents are becoming increasingly prevalent. Phishing attacks and inadequate password security are often to blame, allowing hackers to commandeer social accounts and push fraudulent crypto ventures.
In response, the House of Commons reiterated its ongoing commitment to digital security but declined to offer further details regarding the breach.
According to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting body, over 35,000 social media-related hacks were reported in 2024 alone.
Experts continue to urge users—especially public figures and influencers—to implement robust cybersecurity measures, including two-factor authentication and the use of strong, unique passwords.
