Illegitimate websites deceive users using scam Facebook advertisements presenting celebrity statements

A cybersecurity firm, Group-IB, brings to light a celebrity support-based fake financing scheme to fool the public by compelling them to invest and, in return, get a good amount. The team identified the fraud across Europe, scamming people in 9 countries, including the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The scammers try to persuade victims to add money to the fraudulent portal, and in return, they assure them of getting a massive amount from their investment. They showcase celebrities' stories having compelling statements, for instance, how I became wealthy. These stories play an integral part in convincing the public to invest their hard-earned money in fake websites. The cyber company team pretended to be a victim and got the scammers' trust. They came to know the fraudulent methods which scammers use to target people. They use fraudulent Facebook pages and postings on trustable places such as YouTube. When victims see legitimate websites surfacing this kind of ad, they consider it concrete evidence for generating a handsome amount. For ads, they use statements from Elon Musk or any other European public figure to gain people's trust.


So for the initial investment, tricksters demand a minimum deposit of two hundred and fifty Euros. They term it a Special offer to pose that they are also making it swift for ordinary people. As soon as the victim deposits the amount on the scam broker website, they'll find fake messages from the public that have got cashback successfully. They show a random profile of a person who has taken out the euros upon investing in the broker's site. According to the Group-IB team working undercover, scammers also make phone calls voicing as company managers, with the plan to ask for the minimum amount or convince even more. Group-IB representatives elaborately explained how scammers use engaging conversations with the public and always give a good response to reassure people about their investment policy.

Additionally, fraudsters make a call to the person who wants to invest and provide a particular link to the final scam project. The victim requires to refill the account balance. The fraud manager guides the victim on their investment strategy. Besides this, scammers also change the number of euros in the portal to satisfy the victim. At one point, the victim agrees to transfer money, their money is lost, and they imagine themselves as wealthy. When victims try to withdraw money, fake managers tell them to invest more to reach a threshold. Once the cashing out threshold is accomplished, their amount can be withdrawn. But, in reality, no such thing exists, and there is no way to get out of it.

Finally, Group-IB added scammers to use keywords to trick the public into their frauds. The keywords can be crypto, such as Bitcoin. It is therefore suggested to always authenticate domains and websites while transferring your money to the websites and never click on advertisements as most scams spread through ads. So it's better to do your research and proceed accordingly.

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