Valor in Business & Entrepreneurship

A fake billionaire is fooling people on Twitter

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Reuters Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway IncReuters

Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc

Warren Buffett is not tweeting inspirational quotes. But fake Warren Buffet is, and you may have seen his advice this week.

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Since then it has amassed close to two million likes for its personal, motivational, and inoffensive sound-bites.

The @WarrenBuffet99 account has telltale signs of fakery.

  • No blue tick. Think about it. Warren Buffett is a big, big deal – why wouldn’t his account be verified by Twitter?
  • Limited activity. The account’s first tweet is from 25 August and only has motivational quotes. Is this really what one of the world’s richest men would focus his social media on?
  • His name is spelt wrong. It’s Warren Buffett, not Warren Buffet.

The account mimics Buffett’s wholesome folksy style – making it feel like the man himself is broadcasting life tips in kindly tones, peppering his advice with modern-day concerns about anxiety and fast-paced lifestyles.

“Saying good words to people will never go out of style,” it suggests, or: “In a given day, how many hours are you happy and stress-free? Measure that.”

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But in contrast, Buffett actually tweets infrequently and selectively. His handful of tweets include a profile of successful female business owners or an op-ed about progressive economics.

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Can the viral success of the fake account be attributed to our desperation for positive content in these dark times? Or maybe we’re hoping to walk in the footsteps of one of the world’s more successful investors.

The BBC has contacted @WarrenBuffet99 to find out more behind the account but it has not responded to queries.

Meanwhile if you’re mourning the loss of a morning pick-me-up, fear not, you can turn to some bona fide Warren Buffett words of wisdom.

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