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The BBC has fallen foul of ‘Twitter Squatting’, with a non-BBC user using www.twitter.com/BBC since around October 2008.

The issue came to light when the user replied to a comment with an insult (Found at 14sandwiches, via Currybet)

‘Gary’s tweet read: “@BBC You are an absolute DISGRACE for refusing to air the Disaster Emergencies Committee’s Gaza appeal: https://www.dec.org.uk/“

A little later he received a reply which read: “@sputnik101 so are you :p“.’

Screenshots and more details are also at Native

The account has now been handed over to the BBC team officially, but it’s quite surprising that an organisation that has several Twitter accounts and employees using Twitter didn’t think to check their main brand name.

Having said that, @thewhitehouse is an unofficial Twitterfeed which could easily be mistaken for an official channel.

What makes it slightly frustrating is the fact that this isn’t exactly new.

Way back in August 2008, it was revealed at the @ExxonMobileCorp account was a fake.

And even those unfamiliar with Twitter must be vaguely aware of Cybersquatting/Domain Squatting, which has been happening for at least a decade.

You don’t have to actively engage in Twitter to protect your name – just set up a profile with bio information explaining it’s a holding page. And I’m not saying you have to do it to protect your name – I’m saying you have to do it to protect the people that will be at risk by fakes.

A while ago, someone asked me why I rush to claim certain brand names on any new microblogging/social network site I find. The main reason is to safeguard them for the future, and the fake ExxonMobilCorp account on Twitter shows the reason why!

The fakery was uncovered by a select few, including Shel Holtz , spread via the likes of Jeremiah Owyang, who posts some very interesting responses from Exxon spokesperson Alan Jeffers, and even made the mainstream media.

Interestingly, Exxon aren’t rushing to the lawyers, but are trying to find out who is behind the act:

‘It’s our perception that social networking is based on honesty, transparency and trust, it’s important that they become forthcoming about who they represent,”’ said Alan Jeffers

As of 3 hours ago, the fake ExxonMobilCorp appears to be up and running, and ignoring public calls from the likes of Holtz and Owyang to ‘fess up. So possibly not someone looking to be recognised and commended for making the effort to engage then, and yet someone who seems to be trying to portray the company in a good light.

BBC caught out by Twitter-squatting – will companies learn?

Exxon Twitter account exposed as fake