Fb, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter crack down on ‘OGUsers’ account theft ring

Fb, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter taken off hundreds of accounts Thursday right after an investigation into “OGUsers,” a discussion board for trafficking stolen usernames and cellphone figures.

The crackdown, as reported by Krebs on Safety, signifies the benefits of a coordinated effort by the platforms to scrutinize the most energetic customers of the OGUsers account theft ring. Techniques to wrest management of coveted shorter usernames, which can reportedly fetch a resale benefit of countless numbers of pounds, contain hacking, coercion and extortion.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, tells CNET that the investigation resulted in the elimination of hundreds of accounts.

“Right now, we’re eliminating hundreds of accounts linked to associates of the OGUsers discussion board,” a Fb firm spokesperson reported. “They harass, extort and induce damage to the Instagram group, and we will continue to do all we can to make it tough for them to financial gain from Instagram usernames.”

As for Twitter, a business agent tells CNET that it suspended “a amount of accounts” integrated in the OGUsers community in accordance with its system manipulation and spam policy.

“This investigation was completed in tandem with Facebook,” the spokesperson provides.

TikTok didn’t instantly react to a request for remark, though the organization confirmed to Krebs on Protection that it took motion to goal accounts tied to OGUsers and reclaim an unspecified quantity of accounts.