Bitcoin bro searched ‘how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI’ before FBI arrest
Eric Council, Jr., allegedly used a SIM swap to help access the SEC’s X account in January.
An Alabama man has been arrested by the FBI for allegedly hacking the Securities and Exchange Commission’s social media account on X in a bid to juice Bitcoin’s worth.
While the exact evidence that led the Feds to his door isn’t clear, it’s possible Eric Council, Jr., suspected their eventual arrival—prior to his capture, the 25-year-old reportedly searched the internet on his personal computer for phrases including “SECGOV hack,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” and “what are the signs that you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them.”
On January 9, 2024, the SEC’s official X account tweeted “Today the SEC grants approval for #Bitcoin ETFs for listing on all registered national securities exchanges.” A landmark ruling on whether or not the cryptocurrency could serve as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) had been anticipated for months, the results of which would likely boost or sink at least some of Bitcoin’s value.
In the hours following the apparent approval, the crypto’s net worth rose roughly $1,000 per coin. But there was a problem: the SEC actually hadn’t granted a decision yet, and the tweet claiming otherwise came from someone who apparently gained access to the Commission’s social media account.
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