Fake accounts paid for a subscription and were validated shortly after the company’s paid verification mechanism became online. As a result, legitimate-looking accounts began tweeting strange things, such as a fake Nintendo of America uploading an image of Mario giving Twitter the middle finger and a fake LeBron James seeking a trade. Twitter claimed Wednesday on its support account that it is not yet “placing an ‘Official’ mark on accounts,” but that it is “aggressively going against impersonation and fraud.” The grey checkmark, on the other hand, may assist users in determining if they are working with legitimate businesses or famous individuals.
