A hacked Twitter and email account led to significant misinformation being spread about the Medicine River Wildlife Centre on Wednesday, causing confusion and anger.
A hoax email claimed the wildlife rehabilitation centre west of Red Deer would be closing. A tweet at about noon on Wednesday said the centre assets and house had been sold and a press release had been sent saying the centre was closed.
With most of the staff away at wildlife rehabilitation conference in Nashville, staff member Erin Young, the education co-ordinator, was in the office to clean up after the mess the hacker left.
In an email to the Red Deer Advocate, Young said they have an idea of who may have been responsible, but would not disclose who it was.
She also said the centre’s Twitter account received a direct message saying “We thought it was quite funny, considering how easy all your passwords are.”
Marred with terrible grammar, the fake press release went on to make outlandish claims about individuals and the centre.
Young said all the claims outlined in the faux release are untrue and the centre is working on renovations.