Athens, Alabama – Eric Council Jr., a 25-year-old resident of Athens, Alabama, has been apprehended by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for his alleged involvement in the unauthorized takeover of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account in January 2024. The incident sent shockwaves through the financial markets, specifically impacting the value of Bitcoin.

According to a report by the US Attorney General’s Office, the SEC’s X account (@SECGov) was compromised on January 9, 2024. A false announcement was posted claiming the approval of Bitcoin ETFs for listing on all registered national securities exchanges. This fraudulent tweet led to a significant increase in Bitcoin’s value, soaring by over $1,000. However, once the SEC regained control of the account and issued a correction, the cryptocurrency’s value plummeted by over $2,000.

Council’s arrest in Athens, Alabama, shed light on the charges he is facing, notably conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. The unsealed indictment revealed the sophisticated nature of the cyber attack, emphasizing the use of a technique known as “SIM swap” to gain unauthorized access to the SEC’s X account.

The SIM swap method involves obtaining personal identifying information (PII) of a victim, creating a fake ID using the victim’s information, convincing a cell phone provider to transfer the victim’s phone number to a new SIM card, and using the compromised phone number to bypass multi-factor authentication. Council, also known by aliases such as “Ronin,” “Easymunny,” and “AGiantSchnauzer,” played a critical role in this process by creating the fake ID and obtaining the SIM card linked to the victim’s phone line.

U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves emphasized the seriousness of SIM swapping schemes, warning about the potential for devastating financial losses and leaks of sensitive information. This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of high-profile accounts to sophisticated cyber-attacks and the repercussions they can have on financial markets.

FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge David Geist reiterated the bureau’s commitment to identifying, disrupting, and investigating cyber-enabled frauds, including SIM swapping. The arrest of Council underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to combat cybercrime and safeguard the integrity of financial systems.

In conclusion, the arrest of Eric Council Jr. in connection to the unauthorized takeover of the SEC’s X account highlights the potential consequences of social media manipulation on financial markets. It serves as a cautionary tale about the vulnerabilities of high-profile accounts to cyber-attacks and the importance of vigilant cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive information and financial systems. The FBI’s swift action in apprehending Council underscores their commitment to combatting cyber-enabled frauds and protecting the integrity of the financial sector.

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