Fake Warren Buffett Account Tweeting Internet Quotes About Life Is A Hit

A fake Twitter handle impersonating Berkshire Hathaway's Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett is winning over Twitter by tweeting folksy wisdom through inspirational quotes found on the Internet.

The fake account @warrenbuffet99 that spells Buffett with a single 't' was created on December 15, 2016 and was largely dormant until August 25 this year when it started tweeting whimsical quotes.

The account does not bear Twitter's verified blue tick symbol nor does it contain a disclaimer of being a fan account. Still that hasn't deterred over 2,39,000 from following the fake handle believing it to be that of the legendary billionaire investor known as the Sage of Omaha.

Not a single tweet from the fake account has been related to capital markets and the content reads more like inspirational quotes one would expect to find on Instagram or Pinterest.

While fake accounts are an old menace on Twitter the traction this particular fake handle has received is astonishing. Take for instance the tweet 'Here's what's cool' got over 7,71000 Likes and over 3,14,000 retweets at the time of writing this story.

Here's what's cool:

1 saying 'thank you'

2 apologizing when wrong

3 showing up on time

4 being nice to strangers

5 listening without interrupting

6 admitting you were wrong

7 following your dreams

8 being a mentor

9 learning and using people's names

10 holding doors open

— Warren Buffet (@warrenbuffet99) August 26, 2018

Other tweets seem to be a rehash of quotes available on scrap-booking sites such as Pinterest.

There are millions of people who would love to trade places with you. They are dreaming about the exact same situation that you're complaining about. Remember, the same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you're made of, not the circumstances.

— Warren Buffet (@warrenbuffet99) August 28, 2018

Screenshot from Pinterest

(Click here to view an archived version of the account)

A Google search of Warren Buffett's real Twitter handle shows you his original Twitter account @WarrenBuffett

The account bears Twitter's verified blue tick symbol a distinguishing feature to identify genuine accounts. Buffett's real account has tweeted only nine times since its creation in April 2013. The account is followed by over 1.43 million.

Warren is in the house.

— Warren Buffett (@WarrenBuffett) May 2, 2013

This is not the first time a fake Warren Buffett account has generated buzz online. In June this year a tweet by a parody Twitter account of Warren Buffett ( @ORACLEofETH) was picked up by the Economic Times as the Tweet of the day in its June 26th edition. The Economic Times issued a correction the followin day. Read more about it here.

The fake account @warrenbuffet99 was suspended later on.

Note: The story has been updated to mention that the account has been suspended.