The infamous energy giant that collapsed in a massive fraud scandal 23 years ago is attempting a revival, but this time there’s twist.
Likely pranksters are behind the operation and they’re teasing the launch of a crypto token.
Announcement of the decade
On December 2, exactly 23 years after filing for bankruptcy due to accounting fraud, a group claiming to be Enron announced its relaunch as a company focused on tackling the global energy crisis.
They made their grand entrance with a post on X and even splashed out on a billboard in Houston, Texas, the city that was once home to the original Enron.
In a now-deleted post, the new Enron hinted at launching a crypto token.
“We do not have any token or coin (yet). Stay tuned, we are excited to show you more soon.”
Prank or scam or something else?
The revamped Enron’s website carries a disclaimer stating that it’s all in good fun.
“The information on the website is first amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.”
The trademark for Enron is owned by an Arkansas firm called College Company, co-founded by Connor Gaydos, who is also known for his involvement in the “birds aren’t real” conspiracy theory.
Bad joke
Not everyone is laughing at this prank. Diana Peters, who represented former Enron employees during the bankruptcy proceedings, expressed her dismay.
She told ABC News that it’s a pretty sick joke that disrespects those who worked there. Peters lost everything in the collapse and pointed out that her Social Security doesn’t always cover her needs.
Enron was once a shining star in the 1990s, but turned out executives used complex accounting tricks to hide billions in debt from failed projects.
When the truth came out in late 2001, it led to one of the largest bankruptcies in U.S. history.
