Twitter Warns Users of Possible Phishing Scam

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The microblogging Web service Twitter has been warning some of its users to change their account password after they signed up for TwitterCut, which claims to have been a "twitter train," but is seen by many as a phishing Web site that's collecting Twitter user names and passwords. Twitter trains are Web sites that claim to help Twitter users gain large numbers of followers very quickly.

Apparently some Twitter users were receiving messages that appeared to be from friends with links to TwitterCut and a claim that they could get more followers by visiting the Web site. The Twitter messages, however, weren't sent by the account owners.

Even though a message was sent out to all of a Twitter user's followers once they gave TwitterCut their account login information, the site operators are claiming they weren't spamming Twitter accounts or harvesting user names and passwords.

Despite its assertion that it was a legit service, TwitterCut shut down on Wednesday, leaving behind a message that stated "Our website and its programmers can assure you that these rumours are not true and that TwitterCut is simply a Twitter train that was a work in progress! We were not phishing twitter accounts what so ever."

Regardless of whether or not TwitterCut was a legit service, the service's short life is a reminder that users need to be very careful when giving up their personal account information.

Jeff Gamet

Jeff Gamet

Jeff is the Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and co-host of the Apple Context Machine podcast. He is the author of "The Designer's Guide to Mac OS X" from Peachpit Press, and writes for several design-related publications. Jeff has presented at events such as Macworld Expo, the RSA Conference, and the Mac Computer Expo. In all his spare time, he also co-hosts the We Have Communicators podcast, and makes guest appearances on several other podcasts, too. Jeff dreams in HD.

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1 Comments

bertus

I think this was indeed a phishing site, like so many other so called twitter trains.  Why do they all get shut down if they are legit? hmm.  Anyway, I found a real way to boost your followers, and this works on autopilot while it makes you money.  Check it out—> http://tinyurl.com/cashtwitty

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