Q COSTARICA — Former President Laura Chinchilla Miranda was the victim of a hack on her X account on Sunday, February 1.
Around 5:47 p.m., a message was posted advertising the sale of computers at a significantly lower price than their actual value.
Specifically, nine MacBook computers were offered for us$600 each, with free shipping provided in the former president’s name for the period between 2010 and 2014.
“Hello X family! I have 9 MacBooks that I will personally sign, which you can buy for $600 with free shipping. First come, first served, and all profits will go to charity! My direct messages are open if you are interested. Only for US citizens,” the message on the former president’s account read.
Immediately, alerts arose regarding a possible scam due to the explicit content on Chinchilla’s official account.
The message took everyone by surprise, given Chinchilla’s active presence on social media.
“Friends, someone accessed my X account and is posting content without my consent. I reported the incident yesterday to X, as it is a verified account, but they are NOT working with the efficiency they demand of governments. As soon as I regain control, I will inform you,” the former president wrote in a statement.
Chinchilla is currently in Italy, where she is participating in the Winter Olympics as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
She traveled last Sunday after voting. That same evening, she commented on the election results in Costa Rica.
Identity Theft
This is not the first time a similar scenario has occurred. In December 2013, while Laura Chinchilla was president, she reported an apparent case of identity theft on Facebook.
Specifically, it involved a supposed self-congratulatory comment regarding a ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the conflict with Nicaragua.
After the ICJ rejected Nicaragua’s attempts to halt the construction of Route 1856, Chinchilla shared the link to the Court’s publication.
Subsequently, a comment appeared from someone named “Laura Chinchilla Miranda” with a profile picture identical to Chinchilla’s, congratulating her.
“President, your leadership has been proven beyond a doubt! What a great team!!!! Congratulations!!!!” it read, as reported by media outlets at the time, such as La Nación.