The Kroger supermarket chain’s headquarters is shown in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Lisa Baertlein/File Photo
Nov 5 (Reuters) – Kroger Co (KR.N) said on Friday a press release saying it would accept “bitcoin cash” this holiday season is fraudulent, becoming the second major retailer in recent weeks to be ensnared in a crypto hoax.
The release appeared on Kroger’s investor relations page, and was later deleted. The company did not immediately respond to questions on how the release made it to its website.
Kroger has not released an official statement.
The release also appeared on PR Newswire. The news release distributor did not respond to a request for comment.
Bitcoin prices turned slightly negative after Kroger said the release was fake.
Bitcoin Cash is a fork of bitcoin’s underlying software code formed in 2017, and was an initiative headed by a small group of mostly China-based bitcoin miners. (https://reut.rs/3bL8MNO)
Walmart Inc (WMT.N) was subject to a cryptocurrency hoax in September when a fake press release was published announcing a partnership between the world’s largest retailer and litecoin. The news had briefly sent prices of the little known cryptocurrency surging. read more
Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Bernard Orr
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
