ATLANTA — A viral post on the social media platform "X" has sparked questions surrounding financial crimes and the boundaries of online privacy.
The post, which claimed to expose the personal banking information of an Atlanta-area man, has garnered over seven million views, prompting concerns about the potential legal repercussions.
The post, initially shared on the public account, was created Monday afternoon. Despite the account owner later asserting that it was a mere joke, legal experts warn that the consequences could be severe if the claims prove to be true.
Atlanta attorney Darryl Cohen emphasized the longevity of sensitive information that's shared on social media, regardless of when it's taken down.
"Once you have something, it's out there, and you never see it go away. Somebody's got to screenshot a screen, grab whatever it may be, and it's going to stay forever. And this is one of those stories that will have legs that will last forever," Cohen said.
Cohen further explained that utilizing the exposed information for any unauthorized purchases or paying off bills could result in serious legal consequences.
"Anyone who used that information to buy a television, to pay off bills, whatever he or she used it for, they were guilty of committing a felony, not a misdemeanor, but a felony," he warned.
11Alive reached out to Navy Federal Credit Union, the bank listed on the post, for comment. In response, the financial institution issued a statement saying,
We are aware of the incident and will be working with that member. Unfortunately, as part of our account security protocols, we cannot speak about account details with people who are not listed on a member’s account.
While local authorities have not confirmed any reported crimes within their jurisdiction related to the incident, Cohen stressed the importance of keeping banking information private. He urged individuals to be cautious about sharing such sensitive details online and highlighted the potential legal ramifications for those who exploit such information.