The well-known content creator Pollito Tropical has revealed via a social media video that he has been the target of a digital scam for six months. According to his account, hackers have taken over his TikTok account, which boasts 4.8 million followers, and are soliciting money under his name.
"My loves, I've been scammed for six months. Since June 1st, my TikTok was hacked, and they're asking for $10,000. They've changed everything: the device, the country where I originally opened the account, the email... they've even contacted my sponsors pretending to be me to ask for more money," he shared, clearly distressed.
The influencer urged his followers to report the account in hopes that the platform would shut it down permanently. "I'm stressed; I've been dealing with this for over six months. I don't want them to keep profiting off my name. If you help me report it, I would be very grateful," he added.
The announcement sparked a wave of reactions on social media, with hundreds of users showing their support for Pollito, while others questioned the video's authenticity, speculating if it could be a case of identity theft or even the use of artificial intelligence.
Messages such as "Don't worry, Pollito, I've reported it"; "I went through something similar, I know how frustrating it is," and "This is extortion, it's something you can report," were commonly shared.
Many followers expressed surprise that such a prominent figure could fall victim to such a sophisticated hack, involving not just a change of country in the account's records, but also a fake WhatsApp number and emails using his identity.
"What they're doing is on another level; I've never heard of anything like this," said Pollito, who is prepared to start over if he can't regain access.
As of now, TikTok has not made any public comments about the situation, but Pollito Tropical's TikTok account remains active. Meanwhile, the public continues to be divided between support, skepticism, and concern over the lack of protection that content creators face against such digital crimes.
Understanding Digital Scams on Social Media
How can content creators protect themselves from digital scams?
Content creators can enhance their security by using strong, unique passwords for each account, enabling two-factor authentication, and regularly monitoring account activity for suspicious behavior.
What should users do if they suspect an account has been hacked?
If users suspect an account has been hacked, they should immediately report it to the platform, change their passwords, and alert their followers not to interact with suspicious messages.
Is it possible for hackers to change the country associated with a social media account?
Yes, hackers can sometimes modify account settings, including the country of origin, to avoid detection or to facilitate fraudulent activities.