CELEBRITY  FRAUDS

Week by week, criminals, posing as well know celebrities, are exploiting victims by using fake profiles, fraudulent Charity appeals, Romance and Dating contacts or false product endorsements

Fraudsters may contact you on social media or dating sites claiming to be a star or celebrity of screen, stage or the Pop music scene. There have even been fraudsters posing as Elon Musk offering romance and a new motor car.

 They then ask to start a relationship, followed shortly later by requests for money to their own “Charity” or in one case a tempting offer of a holiday away with them – at your cost. In reality, are such celebrities going to contact someone out of the blue who they do not know?

Some victims have been led to believe that the so-called celebrity will shortly be arriving in the UK with a view to a long-term relationship and even marriage. At the same time, they may slip in a message appealing for money to assist them with their travel arrangements. Surely a very obvious red flag and a person to block straightaway?

How to avoid and report celebrity fraudsters

When you see an advert online featuring a celebrity endorsement, there are a few questions you should ask yourself:

Finally, do you think that this celebrity is likely to be endorsing that product, or wishing to start a relationship with someone they have never met?

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours

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If you’ve fallen for fraud

Report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via actionfraud.police.uk

Fake Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take early action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report fraudulent mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudster’s phone number.

Forward Fake Emails received to report@phishing.gov.uk

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number - 159 - to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.