Abstract

Social media platforms are now essential channels for organizations and public figures to connect, build brands, and create economic value. Yet, the immense visibility of celebrity and corporate accounts makes them irresistible targets for cybercriminals. Attackers seek quick financial gain, the ability to spread misinformation, and cause significant reputational damage. This paper investigates the common routes to compromise, including deceptive phishing schemes, password reuse, platform weaknesses, and psychological manipulation (social engineering). By reviewing prominent real-world cases and scholarly findings, we uncover the complex blend of psychological, technical, and governance issues driving these breaches. Finally, we propose a layered socio-technical mitigation framework that integrates technology, organizational policies, individual behavior, and platform accountability. The findings underscore a critical need to better protect these influential digital identities from ongoing exploitation.