Fake ‘Blue Check’ Twitter accounts flourish under Elon Musk’s new plan

There’s a new breed of users posing as celebrities and politicians after the launch of Twitter’s $8-a-month verification service. People using false identities were awarded blue check marks on the website after the social media site changed its policy on verification after Elon Musk’s $44 billion purchase of the company last month.

In one of his first acts at the company, he announced those badges would be available to buy under an $8-a-month subscription service. Previously, the company had granted verification to people that it deemed to be high-profile and at risk of impersonation, such as politicians, celebrities or journalists.