Acquiring Twitter Accounts??

[MikeJDS]

What's the best way of going about acquiring unused Twitter accounts?

There are a couple of @names I would like to get hold of, but what is the best way of approaching this.
From what I understand it's 'illegal' for anyone to sell a Twitter account, but of course it does happen.

Just like to point out, the accounts themselves hold little value, have little followers and are no longer active, it's just the @name itself I'm interested in.

Anyone with any experience with this care to share any tips?

Thanks
Mike

EDIT: To the person who PM'd me - Can you clear some space in your inbox so I can send a reply please.

 

[Murray]

Just ask the current "owners" if they would consider releasing them to you?

I think that's all you can do, assuming you can find a way to contact them.

 

[scottmccloud]

Don't know if this is of any use, never used it myself.

http://tweetclaims.com/

 

[ian]

Also wanted to contact a Twitter handle that wasn't being used any more but had no joy. It seems to send a direct message you now need them to be following you, which in most cases just isn't going to happen. Any work-around?

 

[Adam H]

It maybe against their T&C's to sell an account , but if you sell a web property which has an account linked to it , they dont know or complain about a new email address and password being used on that account, it would take some pretty extreme circumstances for them to find out it was financial benefit.

I certainly would look to private message that account on twitter though, id see if could track them down off of Twitter ( if possible ) and contact them that way.

Honestly though, If someone offered to purchase a facebook or twitter page i owned id make sure it was a premium price, it wouldnt be worth the bother for a couple of quid even if it wasnt an active account.