Investment fraud with fake celebrities
An ad with a famous person: “This is how I earn thousands of euros a month with crypto.” The video is fake.
1How they do it
- You see an ad or news article with a famous face. Often it is a deepfake.
- You leave your details. A friendly “adviser” calls you.
- You start with 250 €. On your account you see nice profits, but they are made up.
- You put in more. When you want to withdraw, you first have to pay “taxes” or “fees”. You never see the money again.
2A real example
“Breaking: famous presenter reveals the secret banks want to hide. Invest 250 € today.”
3How to spot it
- Guaranteed high returns with little risk.
- An adviser who keeps calling and asks you to install a program.
- You have to pay to withdraw your own money.
4How to protect yourself
- Check that the firm is licensed by the financial regulator in your country.
- Never install AnyDesk or TeamViewer because an “adviser” asks you to.
- Distrust every ad that mixes a celebrity and money.
In Belgium
- Check the firm with the FSMA (fsma.be). It also has a list of known fraudsters.
How WolfKey helps
Scammers often ask for access to your computer to “help”. With WolfKey nobody can pay or log in without your finger on your phone.
Get WolfKeySuspicious number, email or website? Check it or report it.
Examples have been made unrecognisable. Names and numbers in the examples are made up.