Like many twentysomethings, Chloe spent much of her downtime on social media, scrolling the pages of her favourite influencers.
She followed a well-known Instagram personality with an enviable lifestyle, a successful businesswoman who seemed to have it all. She claimed she’d made her money by investing in crypto and if she could do it, so could her followers… Chloe included.
With dreams of trading in her unreliable old car and finally getting on the property ladder, the prospect of potentially growing the modest pot of savings she’d worked so hard to scrape together piqued Chloe’s interest.
She followed a link on the influencer’s page and contacted her directly to ask how to go about investing in crypto.
The woman was friendly and amenable and advised Chloe of the best crypto schemes to invest in, similar to the ones she had invested in herself.
Chloe parted with every penny of her savings and the influencer helped her manage her investments, assuring her they were increasing exponentially every week.
Chloe’s excitement at the thought of driving her new car and owning her own home began to build… until she spoke to her family about her investment ventures. Concerned it sounded too good to be true, they searched the influencer online and discovered multiple scam warnings associated with her.
Chloe quickly contacted the influencer to request her money back, but her messages went unanswered and the influencer mysteriously disappeared… along with Chloe’s money.
Fraudsters often use social media to advertise, frequently featuring celebrities to attract victims. They also target individuals searching for investment opportunities via search engines.
Be aware:
- Were you contacted unexpectedly?
- Are you being pressured to invest quickly?
- Are the promised returns unrealistically high?
Remember, if an investment seems too good to be true, it probably is.
For more on fraud and where to report, visit our website:
https://www.cambs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/
