X Sues Users Over $278K Bitcoin Scam

X has filed a lawsuit in London against two users, Vivek Kumar Sen and Zamyang Sherpa, alleging they operated a coordinated network of Bitcoin-themed accounts to manipulate engagement and fraudulently obtain payouts from the platform's Creator Revenue Sharing program. The company asserts that this scheme generated no less than £207,384 (approximately $278,000) and resulted in substantial investigative expenses exceeding £75,000. These allegations, filed on September 17, are currently untested in court, with no public defense filed by the named defendants.

The alleged operation involved six accounts enrolled in the program between August 2023 and February of this year, supported by additional handles that amplified their content. X claims identical or near-identical posts were shared within seconds, accompanied by likes and replies from supporting accounts to create a false impression of authentic interaction. Evidence suggests attempts to move conversations off-platform and offers for paid engagement manipulation services. Payments were reportedly routed through multiple bank accounts and Stripe profiles, with linked emails and bank details suggesting a connection between the defendants and other individuals.

This legal action follows a broader crackdown by X on recycled content and engagement bait within its Creator Revenue Sharing program, which concluded new enrollments in August and stopped accruing earnings on September 7. The platform is transitioning to an Original Content Rewards system to better support genuine creators. X seeks restitution of fraudulent payments, damages for deceit and conspiracy, and other costs associated with the alleged fraud, emphasizing the negative impact on legitimate creators and the platform's integrity.