Bitcoin fraudsters using images of celebrities including Deborah Meaden and Martin Lewis, charity warns
Victims tricked into transferring a total of £34,000 by fraudsters in 21 separate cases last month
Cryptocurrency scammers are using the faces of celebrities including Deborah Meaden and money saving expert Martin Lewis to convince people to part with their cash, Action Fraud has warned.
Consumers were tricked into transferring a total of £34,000 by fraudsters in 21 separate cases last month, the charity said.
Adverts on social media and websites use images of the individuals to promote the investments including bitcoin, but in reality the money is simply stolen. The posts link to websites where people put in their contact details.
Read more Half of UK companies 'have been victims of fraud or economic crime' The scammers then phone would-be investors to convince them to transfer funds.
Mr Lewis said he found it “sickening” that scam artists were “leeching” off the trust of his audience.
“Let me be very plain,” he said. “I never do adverts. If you see my picture in a..