Peru's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) said its official account on the social media platform X was hacked, according to a statement released by the ministry.
The ministry said that after learning of the breach, it activated its security protocols in an effort to recover access to the account.
While that process is underway, MEF asked the public not to treat any posts published from the affected account as official.
What MEF Said About the Breach
The ministry did not say when the hacking took place or give a timeframe for restoring control of the account, though it said it would inform the public once the issue is resolved.
Verifying information through institutional channels and official statements is important in situations like this, in order to avoid the spread of misinformation.
About the Ministry of Economy and Finance
MEF is the Peruvian government body responsible for setting the country's fiscal, monetary and economic policy. It oversees the national budget, public spending, taxation and financial regulation, and works with Congress on budget approval. Its announcements, economic bulletins and public statements are closely watched by markets, businesses, credit rating agencies and other state institutions.
About X, the Platform
X, formerly known as Twitter, is a social media platform used by governments, companies and public figures worldwide to share official announcements. It was rebranded from Twitter in 2023 after its acquisition by businessman Elon Musk. Government agencies frequently rely on verified accounts on the platform to communicate policy decisions, which makes those accounts a target for hackers seeking to spread false information under an official name.
Cybersecurity researchers have long warned that hijacked social media accounts belonging to banks, government agencies and public officials can be used within minutes to post fraudulent links or false financial information before the compromise is detected.
