New York Times exposes TV stars who pay for fake Twitter followers

The New York Times

A Times investigation of Devumi, a company that sells fake Twitter followers en masse, found that it uses stolen social media identities, including those from minors, in its fake Twitter accounts. The Twitter accounts not only follow, but they’ll also retweet tweets — all in an effort to boost the perceived popularity of its clients. The TV stars The Times found to have bought fake Twitter followers in bulk, either directly or through an associate, include American Idol winner Clay Aiken, Scandal’s Katie Lowes, Sons of Anarchy alum Ryan Hurst, Lucifer’s D.B. Woodside, John Leguizamo, Shark Tank’s Lori Greiner, Real Housewives star Sonja Morgan and Lisa Rinna and Bachelor alum Melissa Rycroft. “Everyone does it,” says actress Deirdre Lovejoy, a Devumi customer who is best known for her role on The Wire.