Lucy Powell X Account Hacked to Promote Scam Crypto Coin

The X account of UK Member of Parliament and Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, was hacked on April 15 to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency called the House of Commons Coin (HOC). 

The incident is part of a troubling pattern of political figures being targeted in cryptocurrency-related social media breaches.

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The compromised account shared several now-deleted posts describing HOC as a “community-driven digital currency” and encouraging users to invest. 

HOC announcement (Source: X)

A spokesperson for Powell confirmed the breach, stating: “Steps were taken quickly to secure the account and remove misleading posts.”

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A Short-Lived Scam

According to data from blockchain analytics platform DEX Screener, HOC saw only modest engagement, reaching a peak market capitalization of just over $24,000. 

HOC chart (Source: TradingView)

The token recorded 736 transactions and approximately $71,000 in total trading volume before interest quickly faded. Despite being promoted through a high-profile account, skepticism from the crypto community may have limited its traction.

Reports indicate the token has since been removed from multiple decentralized exchanges after being flagged as a scam.

Powell Incident Reflects Rising Crypto Exploits of Political Platforms

While Powell has no known connection to cryptocurrency, her experience reflects a broader pattern in which scammers exploit public figures to promote dubious digital assets. 

U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump both previously launched and endorsed meme coins, prompting criticism and controversy.

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In Argentina, President Javier Milei also became embroiled in a scandal surrounding a token called LIBRA. The coin collapsed in value following promotion linked to Milei, leading to political backlash and calls for an investigation.

Global Pattern of Crypto Scams

Just weeks prior to Powell’s incident, Ghanaian President John Mahama’s X account was similarly hijacked to promote a fake token dubbed “Solanafrica.” 

The attackers controlled Mahama’s account for 48 hours, falsely claiming partnerships with Solana and the Bank of Ghana. Mahama’s office confirmed the restoration of the account and urged the public to disregard any cryptocurrency-related posts.

Experts Warn of Rising Cyber Threats

Cybersecurity professionals warn that these types of hacks — leveraging the credibility of public officials to amplify crypto scams — are likely to increase. 

Though the House of Commons Coin scam ultimately caused limited financial damage, the incident sheds light on the increasing vulnerability of political figures to cyber fraud and the urgent need for heightened public awareness and stronger social media safeguards.