July 9th 2024.
According to financial expert Martin Lewis, it seems that scammers are using popular celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Adele, and Elon Musk to lure people into their fake profiles and scam adverts. The Action Fraud data has revealed that these three celebrities, along with others, have been frequently used in fake profiles for scams. In fact, MoneySavingExpert.com has conducted an analysis of reported scams in 2022 and 2023, and has compiled a list of the most featured public figures in these scams.
At the top of the list is Mr. Lewis himself, with a staggering 32.4% of scam cases mentioning his name. Other famous names on the list include Jeremy Clarkson, Rishi Sunak, and even the King himself, among others. Mr. Lewis believes that these scammers are using their own digital marketing teams to research which celebrities and types of adverts are most effective in getting people to click and fall for their scams.
He also suspects that the scammers are collecting data on the power of each public figure to attract victims and how many people actually fall for their scams after seeing them in an advert. As someone who does not do advertisements, Mr. Lewis finds it disheartening to see his name at the top of this list. He says, "Topping this list is about the worst compliment I've ever had."
The new government has promised to hold tech companies accountable and work with banks to prevent scams and support victims. Mr. Lewis hopes to see if they will deliver on this promise. In the meantime, MoneySavingExpert advises people to be cautious of scam ads that mention cryptocurrency, investing, retirement planning, or promises of getting rich quick. They also warn against falling for claims about celebrity scandals, as these could be just another scam to lure people in.
One particular scam that has been targeting fans of Taylor Swift is ticket scams for her Era's tour. Fans have reportedly lost an estimated £1 million since UK tickets went on sale last year. MoneySavingExpert recommends buying tickets only from official platforms and being wary of social media posts offering tickets. In case of being scammed, people are advised to contact their bank and the police. Many banks also have a scheme, known as "159", where people can report any suspicious contact that could be a scam.
Some of the banks participating in this scheme include Monzo, Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Co-operative Bank, and others. In addition, people can also report scams to Action Fraud in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and to Police Scotland in Scotland. If someone has paid for a scam using their credit card, they can try to get their money back under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, or through the chargeback scheme. It is also recommended to report any online scam to the Advertising Standards Authority. Stay vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
