The hacker known as 4chan has struck again: this time they were scheming a plan to troll Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) supporters into believing other Bernie Bros had received refunds, in an effort to cause an internet frenzy.
The general gist of the idea was to stoke confusion as many devout Sanders followers forked out the precious little that they had to back their loved Vermont democratic socialist.
Following the announcement Sanders was to suspend his presidential campaign, scores of disheartened Brocialists flooded social media with their tears as a second Democratic betrayal seemed to be on the cards.
4chan, as exploitative of big news as ever, hatched a plan to create hundreds of sock accounts to push a narrative–and algorithms–of supposedly content Bernie Bros who had been given refunds after dipping into their savings or deepening their student loans to throw some cash at the Vermont Senator.
According to the ever-insightful Anon, the plan was straightforward:
Simply, we flood Twitter with sock accounts thanking Bernie for returning our money.
Watch the panic ensue as the basedboys spam him for refunds
Twitter caught wind of the situation and advised authentic Sanders supporters to heed caution.
One tweeter wrote: “What these 4channers don’t get is that for most people these donations are their livelyhoods [sic]! I am privileged enough that my husband who what racists would call an “illegal alien” makes enough in Government support for the 2 of us to live comfortably!”
What these 4channers don't get is that for most people these donations are their livelyhoods! I am privileged enough that my husband who what racists would call an "illegal alien" makes enough in Government support for the 2 of us to live comfortably! #BERNRETURN pic.twitter.com/pih1m4NLXM
— KidInTheHall (@KidInTheHall) April 9, 2020
Several tweets identified the troll operation and warned others of the plan, prompting one Tweeter to write: “Trolls are trying to stop people from getting their Bernie campaign refunds by tricking them it’s pathetic. The #Bernreturn is real. Trump supporters should help by letting Bernie bros know. @BernieSanders is showing leadership during this crisis by refunding much needed money.”
Trolls are trying to stop people from getting their Bernie campaign refunds by tricking them it's pathetic. The #Bernreturn is real.
Trump supporters should help by letting Bernie bros know. @BernieSanders is showing leadership during this crisis by refunding much needed money. pic.twitter.com/eO8Ik3rUSg— Jjendo (@Jjendo1) April 10, 2020
Another, whose account didn’t appear to have much activity, adding to difficulty in determining between 4channer or Bernie Bro, said: “Went to the Sanders campaign office in town and they cut me a check for my campaign contributions after I showed them proof and answered some simple questions. In these hard times this helps a ton!”
Went to the Sanders campaign office in town and they cut me a check for my campaign contributions after I showed them proof and answered some simple questions. In these hard times this helps a ton! #Bernreturn
— mac (@mchutj25) April 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/WilliamForBern1/status/1248301385541718016
Don't let this far right incel stop you from getting your refund #bernreturn pic.twitter.com/60bxKW4rIo
— hanzo main (@ARg000s) April 10, 2020
Several accounts tweeted out the alleged screenshot of Bernie Sanders’ website promising refunds.
As a result, the internet flew into a thankful frenzy where distinctions between trolls and Bernie Bros became impossible to make.
