Unauthorized tweets: A symptom of online identity pilferage

Verified Twitter accounts deal with just one aspect of potential brand vandalism

Perhaps you’ve seen advertisements noting that the FBI has named identify theft as the fastest-growing crime in America. I can attest to it: A security breach at my mortgage company led to my identity being compromised.

Don’t think it’s a problem? Try searching for Magic Johnson’s Twitter account. Is it this one http://twitter.com/Lakers32 or this one? http://twitter.com/Mag1cJohns0n (Twellow is a great tool for locating people and brands on Twitter.)

Twitter verified accounts

If you’re a celebrity or have had problems with impersonation on Twitter, you can get a verified account. That means Twitter has contacted the person associated with the account to confirm they are who they say they are. But it doesn’t mean Twitter has verified who does the tweeting. (Read Twitter’s explanation of verified accounts, here.)