Bitcoin investment crooks are using social media posts and faked Mirror stories to reel in new victims.
The latest version of this sadly common scam begins with a twitter post showing Jonathan Ross and Christiano Ronaldo and the claim: “He Opens The Gates To Wealth To All His Fans In The UK.”
Fake posts like these usually hijack the names business giants such as Bill Gates, judges from Dragons Den or Lord Sugar – so using a footballer is a new departure.
Clicking on the link takes you to a what looks like a Mirror web page.
“Christiano Ronaldo's Newest Investment Is Creating New Generation Of Millionaires,” reads the headline.
It quotes the Portugal team captain urging: “You have to act fast. This will crate new millionaires, but the spots for applying are limited.”
According to the story, he revealed his investment strategy on the Jonathan Ross Show, saying it would “allow the average person the opportunity to cash in on the digital currency boom, even if they have absolutely no investing or technology experience.”
The story claimed that the chat show host put the strategy to the test and made a £233.18 profit in three minutes.
The reporter supposedly behind the story says that she also tried it, and turned an initial deposit of £250 into £6,300.
Almost everything about this is lie.
Jonathan Ross did interviewe Ronaldo in 2015, but nothing was said about digital currency investment.
The Mirror's website has never carried a story suggesting otherwise.
The fabricated Mirror page superficially looks genuine but there are tell-tale signs that it is not real.
Our headlines do not begin every word with a capital letter.
The story claims to have 116,344 comments, which is a ludicrously high number.
And if you check the url it is not mirror.co.uk but heliumstyle.com, some sort of lifestyle online magazine.
If you click on the “Register here” button you are taken to a different website, BitcoinTrader, on TheSecureAdvice.com.
This starts with a typical ploy of crooks – putting pressure on you to act fast.
“Warning, due to extremely high media demand, we will close registration as of 4/6/2019 – hurry!”
The site claims “Bitcoin is making people rich, and you can become the next millionaire.”
It adds that you can start investing by paying in any amount from £250 upwards.
“Bitcoin Trader members typically profit a minimum of £1,300 daily,” it implausibly insists.
“Our members work an average of 20 minutes a day or less.”
Judging by similar scams, here's what will happen if you send them £250.
Over a few weeks they'll claim that their “award-winning algorithm” has been trading automatically on your behalf and you've now got tens of thousands of pounds in your account.
To withdraw it, you have to pay to cover taxes, insurance, or other spurious costs.
That money will disappear along with your deposit and you'll unlikely to find the crooks who have taken it.
BitcoinTrader does not give any details about who they are or where they are based, and it's “contact us” page is just a blank form.
I sent them a message asking for their business details and they have not replied.
Run a mile from this one, it's nothing to do with Ronaldo, Jonathan Ross or the Mirror.