Twitter account

[philiporchard]

I'm interested in a Twitter account.
It was opened in 2009 and not been used apart from following 9 celebs.

I've tried messaging and tweeting to the person but no reply.

The account isn't being used so wondered if anyone on AD had had any success in contacting Twitter and successfully getting control of a defunct account?

Thanks!

 

[boxerdog]

I've been trying to do this exact same thing for about a year now with no joy. Contacting Twitter is a complete waste of time .

 

[ian]

It is impossibly difficult. All you can do is follow them and try to send a message.

There is another method, but perhaps message me and I'll explain.

 

[boxfish]

Messaging Twitter is pointless these days. I've managed to get a few names that way in the past but not anymore.

As well as messaging/tweeting account you can also do forgot password, for two reasons:

1 - The person should get an email which may tempt them to log in and see your messages.
2 - It shows you part of the email address the account is registered to - it's possible this is a dropped domain that you can reg and get the account that way.

 

[davedevelopment]

I'm interested in a Twitter account.
It was opened in 2009 and not been used apart from following 9 celebs.

I've tried messaging and tweeting to the person but no reply.

The account isn't being used so wondered if anyone on AD had had any success in contacting Twitter and successfully getting control of a defunct account?

Thanks!

We had success in grabbing a couple of handles. If you've ever done some advertising with them, approach them via that account, I think that helped our cause. This was back in 2012 though, so things are probably significantly different.

 

[ian]

Messaging Twitter is pointless these days. I've managed to get a few names that way in the past but not anymore.

As well as messaging/tweeting account you can also do forgot password, for two reasons:

1 - The person should get an email which may tempt them to log in and see your messages.
2 - It shows you part of the email address the account is registered to - it's possible this is a dropped domain that you can reg and get the account that way.

Haha, that is the method I was going to suggest in private (in case it is a breach of Twitter terms). It is a nifty way of finding out some useful information.

 

[boxerdog]

I've tried every method mentioned to no joy, I`ve pretty much given up.
Thanks for the tips though.

 

[domainscot]

I'm interested in a Twitter account.
It was opened in 2009 and not been used apart from following 9 celebs.

I've tried messaging and tweeting to the person but no reply.

The account isn't being used so wondered if anyone on AD had had any success in contacting Twitter and successfully getting control of a defunct account?

Thanks!

Hi Phil


Total expert in getting twitter accounts sorted there is a nack do doing it. give me call tell you how. 07985 621 333

 

[Skinner]

I was trying this, twitter essentially said I need a TM or Copyright or usage rights to the handle.

I've seen a few good suspended names, I can't even get twitter to reply about them.

 

[Edwin]

Does it really need to be pointed out that stealing somebody else’s Twitter handle via an expired domain email account sounds pretty illegal. Just because you probably won’t get caught doesn’t make it any more legitimate. You’re still taking something that doesn’t belong to you. And in some jurisdictions it might even be considered “hacking” (which can carry massive penalties) since you’re breaking into someone else’s account.

 

[Adam H]

Does it really need to be pointed out that stealing somebody else’s Twitter handle via an expired domain email account sounds pretty illegal. Just because you probably won’t get caught doesn’t make it any more legitimate. You’re still taking something that doesn’t belong to you. And in some jurisdictions it might even be considered “hacking” (which can carry massive penalties) since you’re breaking into someone else’s account.

I've always wondered how a virtual asset of a brand would be seen in that light, if something like a Twitter account has a handle which is obviously associated with the domain/brand you've registered, which has been signed up using to an email of the domain. How would that stand ? Would you be within your rights to use it ? I guess its even more complicated with GDPR as the account, although registered to the brand could still contain an individuals identifiable details.

Just another good reason to always use two factor auth ( text or authenticator ) so if an account ever did end up associated with a dropped domain email, no one could still access it without a text coming to my phone etc.

 

[boxfish]

Does it really need to be pointed out that stealing somebody else’s Twitter handle via an expired domain email account sounds pretty illegal.

I don't think it is illegal - I own the email address to which the account is registered - what is illegal about that?

 

[Sean]

I don't think it is illegal - I own the email address to which the account is registered - what is illegal about that?

Your honour

Yes, you're the domain's new registrant but it didn't come with rights to a Twitter account.

 

[boxfish]

Yes, you're the domain's new registrant but it didn't come with rights to a Twitter account.

Mine did.

 

[Sean]

Mine did.

You'll need to explain how that happened

Before we pass sentence

 

[boxfish]

You'll need to explain how that happened

No comment.

 

[Sean]

Ah, pleading the fifth, so it's a .com?

 

[boxfish]

From twitter's help page:

https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/cant-access-my-accounts-email-address

I don't have access to the email address I used on my account and my mobile number is not verified

• Unfortunately, if you don't have access to the account's email address or verified mobile number, we are unable to continue troubleshooting. While we understand that it can be disappointing when you lose access to an account, we use these verification requirements to make sure we don't give out any user information to the wrong person.

The 'right person' therefore is the person with access to the email account

*walks free*

 

[Sean]

*walks free*

Maybe in the UK but this falls under US jurisdiction so extradition proceedings will be started and you're looking at 20 years max

 

[boxfish]

Maybe in the UK but this falls under US jurisdiction so extradition proceedings will be started and you're looking at 20 years max

Like the poor man's Kim Dotcom