Hackers Target UK Official’s Account in Crypto Scam Disguised as Government Project

A recent cyberattack targeting a UK government official’s social media account has highlighted ongoing concerns over digital impersonation and crypto scams.

Lucy Powell, a senior cabinet member and MP for Manchester Central, briefly had her verified X account hijacked and used to promote a bogus digital currency called “$HCC”—purportedly short for “House of Commons Coin.”

The posts, which were swiftly removed, falsely presented $HCC as a grassroots cryptocurrency initiative. Some even featured the official House of Commons emblem, lending the scam a dangerous layer of credibility. The breach was confirmed early Tuesday, and Powell’s team acted quickly to recover the account and erase all unauthorized content.

With over 70,000 followers and a prominent government role as Leader of the House of Commons, Powell’s account represented an attractive target for online fraudsters. According to cybersecurity analysts, this kind of hack fits a familiar mold: gain access to a high-visibility profile, manufacture hype around a worthless token, and lure unsuspecting followers into buying in—before vanishing with the profits.

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Luke Nolan of CoinShares described the attack as a textbook “pump and dump” operation. The strategy typically involves creating artificial buzz to inflate a coin’s perceived value, then rapidly offloading insider holdings. In this particular case, the impact was limited—only 34 wallet transactions occurred, totaling just £225—likely due to how quickly the posts were taken down.

Social media takeovers have become increasingly common in crypto-related scams. In most cases, attackers rely on phishing or weak password protection to compromise accounts. The House of Commons issued a general statement reinforcing its commitment to cybersecurity, though it declined to comment on specifics.

According to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud reporting center, social media hacks surged in 2024, with over 35,000 cases logged. Experts continue to stress the importance of two-factor authentication and unique passwords as basic defense tools against these growing digital threats.

Alexander Stefanov