Elon Musk Tesla Motors Inc CEO Elon Musk unveils a new all-wheel-drive version of the Model S car in Hawthorne, California October 9, 2014. Tesla Motors Inc on Thursday took its first step toward automated driving, unveiling features that will allow its electric sedan to park itself and sense dangerous situations. The company also said it will roll out an all-wheel drive option of the Model S sedan that can go from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.2 seconds yet doesn’t compromise the vehicle’s efficiency. Musk said “D” stands for “dual motor,” meaning Tesla’s all-wheel drive vehicle will have a motor at either end of the chassis to increase control. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson (UNITED STATES – Tags: TRANSPORT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS HEADSHOT) – RTR49M2Y

It appears that the days of trusting “verified” Twitter accounts are over. Thanks to new owner Elon Musk, a new change to Twitter’s verification process now allows anybody to get a blue check mark and verified status simply by paying an $8 monthly fee. The new changes went into effect on Wednesday and it did not take long for it to cause some absolute chaos in the sports world.

Within hours of the new changes to the verification process, several fake accounts popped up on Twitter impersonating various star athletes and notable reputable media members to make fake news announcements. A fake Adam Schefter account falsely reported that Las Vegas Raiders had fired head coach Josh McDaniels, a fake Connor McDavid account falsely announced a trade to the New York Islanders, and a fake LeBron James account falsely announced a trade request from the Los Angeles Lakers.

While these fake accounts have done similar impersonating in the past, the difference this time is that the fake accounts also have a verified blue check mark.

“I now count two blue check accounts impersonating pro athletes, one of which is LeBron. This is great stuff,” Toronto Star columnist Bruce Arthur pointed out.

It was a massive change for Twitter, and the sports world blasted Elon Musk and Twitter for the controversial change.

We’ll have to see if Twitter continues this controversial change in the future.

[Bruce Arthur]