Nintendo of America Twitter: The Wild West Era of Verification
If you have found yourself logging onto Twitter in the past 24 hours, you may have come across a picture of Mario making a somewhat inappropriate gesture. The tweet was posted through a verified Nintendo of America account, but it wasn't actually the gaming giant behind the post.
Unfortunately, avoiding any The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom spoilers has become a lot more difficult recently. Twitter verification scams have become rampant, allowing anyone to purchase a verified blue checkmark for their account, making it nearly impossible to distinguish real accounts from fake ones.
Perhaps there is no greater mascot for this new Wild West era of Twitter verification than an account posing as Nintendo of America with an impersonated blue checkmark. Jesus Christ, Donald Trump, LeBron James, Nintendo of America, and Valve Software are among the entities that have been impersonated by scammers looking to make a quick buck.
One Twitter account has already paid $8 to tweet a photo of Mario flipping the bird through a verified Nintendo of America account. This type of scam has become so prevalent that even the most discerning Twitter users are having a hard time distinguishing real accounts from fake ones.
It's that time of year again, folks. We've got a Nintendo Direct on the way, taking place tomorrow, February 8. Confirmed in a tweet from the real Nintendo of America account, fans are eagerly anticipating news on upcoming games, including the highly anticipated sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
But with so many fake accounts floating around, it's important to be careful who you retweet these days. Now that Twitter has introduced the ability to buy a verified blue checkmark by subscribing to their paid service, anyone with $8 can impersonate whoever they want and make it look real.
Following Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter, the multi-millionaire tech giant allowed people to buy their blue tick. Shenanigans ensued, and the platform has since been inundated with fake accounts, leaving users confused and frustrated.
Nintendo of America's Twitter account is just one of many that have fallen victim to these scams. Fans are urged to be cautious when interacting with accounts claiming to be affiliated with the company, and to always double-check the authenticity of an account before retweeting or following.
In conclusion, Twitter verification scams have become a major issue for companies and individuals alike, and Nintendo of America's Twitter account is just one of many that have been targeted. As the platform continues to grapple with this problem, it's important for users to exercise caution and be diligent in verifying the authenticity of any account before engaging with it.
