Due To Fake Press Releases, Kroger Co Denies Accepting Crypto Currency As Payment

JAKARTA - Kroger Co is investigating the publication of a fake press release, which claims that the retailer accepts bitcoins in its stores. This they stated on Friday, November 5, after the second-largest retailer in the US was entangled in crypto scams in recent weeks.

A release saying the grocery store would accept cryptocurrency this holiday season appeared on Kroger's investor relations page. However, that release was later removed.

The company said the page was automatically updated and received a live feed from PR Newswire (PRN), where the fake release also appeared.

"This communication is false and baseless and should be ignored," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement. It also added that Kroger had contacted PRN about the matter.

PRN said it had withdrawn the false announcement and said it was "immediately investigating the incident including looking for criminal activity related to this matter".

Walmart Inc was also the target of crypto scams in September when a fake press release was published. This fake release announces a partnership between the world's largest retailer and Litecoin. The news has briefly seen a spike in the prices of a number of lesser-known cryptocurrencies.

Despite the series of hoaxes, the cryptocurrency has benefited from investors and mainstream companies such as theater chain AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc, which said in September it would accept bitcoin, ether, bitcoin cash, and litecoin for ticket purchases in the months to come. future.

The price of Bitcoin itself turned slightly negative, after Kroger said the release was fake.

A spokesman for the US Securities and Exchange Commission said the agency would not comment on the "presence or absence" of a possible investigation into the fake press release.