Published By Traze Closet
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Losing access to your social media account is frustrating enough, but realizing a hacker is using it to scam others? That’s another level of panic. This is exactly what happened to me when my X (formerly Twitter) account was hacked. What followed was a two-week rollercoaster of frustration, hope, and unexpected help from a familiar name in African tech.
The Nightmare Begins
Upon realizing that my account had been hacked, I immediately took steps to recover it. I followed the instructions in an email notifying me that the email associated with my account had been changed and prompted me to update it. However, as I had not authorized this change, I attempted to reverse it. Unfortunately, by the time I took action, it was too late, and I was unable to regain access.
Filing Complaints—Over and Over Again
With no access, my next stop was X Support. I followed the official process, explaining that my account had been hacked and that I needed to regain access. Shortly after, I received a response asking me to provide some details. I did so immediately, expecting a quick resolution.
First response from X Support
But then—silence.
Days passed, and I heard nothing. Thinking perhaps my case had slipped through the cracks, I started the process again. And again. And again. Each time, I received the same automated response but never progressed beyond that stage.
At first, I wasn’t too worried. I was prepared to wait and go through the motions. But then, I saw what the hacker was doing.
The Bitcoin Scam Panic
The hacker had turned my account into a scam hub, posting shady Bitcoin investment schemes and attempting to trick my followers. Seeing my name and credibility being used for fraud made my stomach turn. Each time I saw another suspicious post, I would rush back to my email thread with X Support or file a new complaint. But the process seemed to be going nowhere.
Two weeks in, I started to worry that I might never get my account back.
An Unexpected Lifeline
At my lowest point, I even considered reaching out to Bernard Kafui Sokpe (@mistameister), the former Senior Partner for Africa at Twitter. But I hesitated—he was no longer with the company, so what could he possibly do?
Then, as fate would have it, Bernard messaged me out of the blue on WhatsApp, asking about my account. I explained my ordeal and how X Support had been unresponsive despite my numerous complaints. He then asked me to send him the case number from my latest support request.
I did just that.
A Breakthrough at Last
A few days later, I received an update on my case—but this time, it was different. X Support informed me that the hacker had made some changes that made the email switch appear legitimate, using my business server name to mask the takeover.
Some breakthrough with X Support
To fix this, they requested that I provide another email linked to my business server, so they could transfer ownership of the account back to me. I missed the opportunity the first time, but when they sent another request, I updated Bernard. He advised me to respond immediately.
I did—and this time, it worked.
My access was restored, and the first thing I did was reset my password.
Finally some good news from X Support
Lessons Learned: Security First!
Now that I have my account back, I’ve taken extra security measures. I enabled two-factor authentication (2FA), something I had avoided in the past due to issues receiving OTP codes on my Ghanaian number, especially when traveling. While international roaming isn’t always smooth, I’ve realized that an extra layer of security is non-negotiable.
This experience was stressful, but it taught me a valuable lesson: social media security should never be taken lightly. If you ever find yourself locked out of your account, be persistent, follow the right channels, and don’t hesitate to reach out to those who might be able to help—even if they’re no longer in the same position of influence.
Because sometimes, the right person can make all the difference.
SOURCE - AMEYAWDEBRAH
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