Exclusive: Kevin Maina loses half a million followers after TikTok account hack
Digital Content Creator and influencer, Kevin Maina, is the latest celebrity to suffer a cyber attack, resulting in the loss of half a million followers on TikTok.
Speaking to Nairobi News, Maina recounted the incident, explaining how the hackers managed to gain access to his account.
“There’s an email which I got which looked like it was from TikTok, design and all, but it was a fake. The email, designed to appear as a legitimate communication from TikTok, urged him to verify his account. The message warned that his account was under threat and promised a blue verification badge as an added incentive for immediate action.
“They sent the link which directed me to a website that looked like a TikTok template, and immediately I tried to log in to my account through that site, which was dubbed ‘TikTok Creator Market’, weird things started happening,” Maina explained.
Upon entering his credentials on the fraudulent site, he was promptly logged out of his account. The hackers then altered his profile details and posted various links, actions that ultimately led to his account being banned by TikTok.
The situation escalated when the hackers demanded a ransom for the return of his account.
“Also, in the email I got, those guys had asked me to pay them because after I realised I was logged out, I asked them if they would please retrieve my account, and they said, We have your account but you have to pay. So it was a back-and-forth situation,” Maina added.
Maina expressed his frustration and concern over the incident, emphasizing the significant impact it has had on his online presence and professional activities.
“It’s a shocker because that account had grown to almost 500,000 followers, so right now we are trying to get in touch with TikTok, I have gotten some contacts, and written some emails trying to see if we can resolve the matter. I am confident that if I can reach them, then they will be able to help,” he said.
The loss of such a large following is a substantial blow, particularly as Maina relies on his TikTok platform to promote his upcoming shows and other endeavours.
“Unless we can retrieve it, I feel like we have lost a big audience and TikTok is my biggest platform, and it affects my upcoming show in the sense that promoting from that angle will be a bit difficult because we have to build the site again organically,” he noted.
Maina issued a stern warning to other TikTok users, particularly those with large followings. “I just want people to be aware, because I think big accounts are being targeted,” he cautioned.
On closer inspection, Maina received a phishing email from tiktokzlivesupport@gmail.com. The body of the email uses TikTok’s brand colours and designs.
At the time of going to press, Maina’s account already had a new user with a language setting of Turkish, but the profile name was still unchanged.
Other creators who have fallen victim to cybercrime include Mummy Francie, Kendi Christine, and Miss Njagi raising concerns about the safety of content creators on TikTok
According to TikTok, creators ought to be aware of suspicious activities and emails that may be fraudulent.
A statement on its website on privacy and security states,
“We work hard to protect and secure you and your information on TikTok. We do not allow: (1) access to any part of TikTok through unauthorized methods; (2) attempts to obtain sensitive, confidential, commercial, or personal information; or (3) any abuse of the security, integrity, or reliability of our platform. You should avoid clicking on suspicious links or responding to requests for information about your account details, passwords, verification qualification, financial, and other personal information.”
“Avoid phishing attacks: Phishing is a common method attackers use to trick others into giving up their personal information such as passwords, credit card numbers, social security, or other sensitive data. Never trust any third-party websites that promise to give away free likes, fans, crowns, coins, or other incentives as they may be able to take your login info. Be sure to always verify any links sent to you via private message before accessing the page. Don’t be fooled if someone contacts you pretending to be from TikTok. Remember: any legitimate email from our teams would never ask you for your password,” it adds.