I am devastated to report that my account was hacked, and sent scam DMs to my followers. Many others were hacked and lost money, their accounts, and their reputations to this disgusting scam.
I have fully regained control of my account now, and must apologise.
The same DM that you may have received was sent to me by a person I followed - she had been hacked first.
I panicked, believed it, and was hacked myself. They took my account over and sent the identical DM to my followers.
It does not even sound like me- its poorly-spelt, ungrammatical American English in no wise resembles my customary formal diction and use of the King's English. If you read my posts hitherto, you may readily see my true style.
@alwayspaterson is the new account I made, and whilst I have regained followers, and participate in my communities, it is simply not the same. My three years of history here, and all my photographs, cannot be replaced.
@onlypaterson is now under my control again. It took a week of contacting X support, jumping through myriad hoops, to reestablish my identity and ownership.
I have changed the password, the account e-mail, all recovery e-mails and phone numbers, and enabled 2FA authentication. I shall never click a DM link or go off-site again.
This may not be sufficient for you to trust me again, and I understand if it does not.
If you find it in your heart to forgive my foolishness, and the harm caused thereby, I shall be humbled and grateful.
Thank you for reading this.