"How I lost my $50,000 Twitter username"

[xxMATTGxx]

Just read this article on a guy who lost his rare Twitter username. It's a good read and quite shocking how certain companies were giving the information out so easily.

I had a rare Twitter username, @N. Yep, just one letter. I’ve been offered as much as $50,000 for it. People have tried to steal it. Password reset instructions are a regular sight in my email inbox.

As of today, I no longer control @N. I was extorted into giving it up.

Read the full article by going to: http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/20...e/?fromcat=all

What are peoples thoughts on this?

[Daltron]

May be a very elaborate story behind someone trying to sell the handle @N and then being scammed, but can't come out about it because it's against Twitter TOS and there would be no legal remedy. I have seen that happen more than often involving people with desirable Twitter handles.

Poor guy but if his story is held to be true.

[lRhyss]

The fact that Paypal gave out the last 4 digits of the card number over the phone is pretty disgusting, also with the fact that he was "Pretending to be an employee" probably helped with this data been released, it's shocking how they wouldn't go through some sort of staff validation process...

As for GoDaddy allowing the hacker to simply guess the first 2 digits of this chaps card number is also very ridiculous, My domain's are registered there, and I'm going to transfer later, and when they send me the whole "why have you decided to leave us" email, I'll link them to this article.

I've always had a note on my Paypal account to not release anything over phone/email/mail unless they have hard proof it's me, that part is common sense, but not still, they should know to not do this without been told by the customer.

Surely he can contact twitter, providing all the details the account @N was originally registered with and explain what happened?

[xxMATTGxx]

The fact that Paypal gave out the last 4 digits of the card number over the phone is pretty disgusting, also with the fact that he was "Pretending to be an employee" probably helped with this data been released, it's shocking how they wouldn't go through some sort of staff validation process...

As for GoDaddy allowing the hacker to simply guess the first 2 digits of this chaps card number is also very ridiculous, My domain's are registered there, and I'm going to transfer later, and when they send me the whole "why have you decided to leave us" email, I'll link them to this article.

I've always had a note on my Paypal account to not release anything over phone/email/mail unless they have hard proof it's me, that part is common sense, but not still, they should know to not do this without been told by the customer.

Surely he can contact twitter, providing all the details the account @N was originally registered with and explain what happened?

I know the people at The Verge who also posted the article have asked Twitter if they are helping him get the account back. Their article is at: http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/29/53...godaddy-paypal

- - - Updated - - -

May be a very elaborate story behind someone trying to sell the handle @N and then being scammed, but can't come out about it because it's against Twitter TOS and there would be no legal remedy. I have seen that happen more than often involving people with desirable Twitter handles.

Poor guy but if his story is held to be true.

It is probably due. Looking at the comments on some of the articles some say that high value domains keep being stolen from GoDaddy accounts in a similar way.

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Also just come across this comment on an article: http://d.pr/n/KUMK who had the @JB twitter account and has similar problems as well.

[lawrawrrr]

When I saw this I thought, oh my god, get over it - it's a username! But then when you get to the last bit it's actually scary what companies will give away without your knowledge.

It's also baffling to me how people are so obsessed with getting 'rare' accounts - not only on Twitter but like, Habbo, too, it's so inconsequential.

Having said that I'd love Twitter to clear out old usernames...

[MKR&*42]

Lmao well there goes my trust in PayPal.

I'm genuinely quite shocked how easily those companies ''gave in'' (basically).

[Kardan]

When I saw this I thought, oh my god, get over it - it's a username! But then when you get to the last bit it's actually scary what companies will give away without your knowledge.

It's also baffling to me how people are so obsessed with getting 'rare' accounts - not only on Twitter but like, Habbo, too, it's so inconsequential.

Having said that I'd love Twitter to clear out old usernames...

A username worth $50,000. I'd be more than angry if I lost a potential $50,000.

[lawrawrrr]

A username worth $50,000. I'd be more than angry if I lost a potential $50,000.

Well I know but he made it clear he had no intention of selling it, he hasn't lost $50,000 at all! (I have this exact same inner angry monologue every time Deal or No Deal is on)

[Kardan]

Well I know but he made it clear he had no intention of selling it, he hasn't lost $50,000 at all! (I have this exact same inner angry monologue every time Deal or No Deal is on)

He lost the chance of getting $50,000. Deal or no deal depends on what way you view it from. You can't say 'I lost £250,000'. But you can say 'You lost the chance to have £3,000' if the Dealer offered you £3,000.

[GoldenMerc]

Had enough problems with PayPal, Horrible they gave his 4 digits of the credit card out mind.