Kroger reviews fake press release touting bitcoin cash acceptance

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Nov. 5 (Reuters) – Kroger Co (KR.N) is investigating the issuance of a fake press release claiming acceptance of bitcoin cash in its stores, the grocer said on Friday, after becoming the second largest retailer in these stores. last few weeks getting entangled in a crypto hoax.

The statement, which said the grocer would accept the cryptocurrency this holiday season, appeared on Kroger’s investor relations page and was later deleted.

The company said the page, which updates automatically, receives a direct feed from PR Newswire (PRN), where the fake version has also appeared.

“This communication was fraudulent and unfounded and should be ignored,” a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement, adding that Kroger was in contact with PRN on the matter.

PRN withdrew the false announcement and said it was “urgently investigating the incident, including any criminal activity associated with this matter.”

The headquarters of the Kroger supermarket chain is shown in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, June 28, 2018. REUTERS / Lisa Baertlein / File Photo

Bitcoin cash is a fork of the underlying software code of Bitcoin formed in 2017, and was an initiative led by a small group of mainly China-based bitcoin miners. (https://reut.rs/3bL8MNO)

Walmart Inc (WMT.N) was the subject of a cryptocurrency hoax in September when a fake press release was issued announcing a partnership between the world’s largest retailer and Litecoin. The news briefly sent prices for the little-known cryptocurrency surge. Read more

Despite a series of hoaxes, cryptocurrencies are increasingly accepted by mainstream investors and companies such as the movie chain AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc (AMC.N), which said in September that it would accept bitcoin. , ether, bitcoin cash and litecoin for the purchase of tickets in the coming month. Read more

Bitcoin prices turned slightly negative after Kroger said the post was bogus.

A spokesperson for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission said the agency would not comment on the “existence or non-existence” of a possible investigation into the bogus press release.

Reporting by Uday Sampath, Kanika Sikka and Nishara Pathikkal Karuvalli in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri, Bernard Orr and Anil D’Silva

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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