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Fraud warning: Online scam misusing local politicians’, media and ITV presenter images

Fraud warning: Online scam misusing local politicians’, media and ITV presenter images

We are warning islanders about an online scam that is using images of local politicians, an ITV Channel presenter, and the Jersey Evening Post’s logo to appear legitimate. None of these individuals or organisations are linked to the scam in any way.

The scam uses targeted Facebook adverts to promote a so called “government investment platform” that claims to offer high returns for very little investment. These claims are not genuine.

We urge you to be cautious when faced with unsolicited investment opportunities, online adverts, or social media promotions.

Rise in impersonation scams

We continue to see an increase in impersonation scams. Criminals are becoming more sophisticated and often pretend to be:

  • local professionals
  • government authorities
  • financial regulators
  • well-known organisations
  • friends or family members

They may use real names, cloned websites, copied branding, and AI-generated images or voices. Their aim is to convince you they are genuine and pressure you into transferring money or sharing personal information.

How to spot a scam

If you receive an unexpected message, friend request, email, text, call or letter, look for signs that it may be a scam. These can include, but are not limited to:

  • spelling mistakes and poor grammar
  • pressure and urgency for you to do something
  • asking or telling you to click on a link
  • unusual payment methods
  • promises or offers that seem too good to be true
  • requests for sensitive and/or personal information
  • website addresses and social media accounts that contain small changes from genuine sites

How to protect yourself

Stop – pause before responding to unexpected calls, messages, or adverts, especially if you are being asked to act quickly.

Check - confirm who you are speaking to. Use contact details from an official website. If you are unsure about an investment or financial service, check if it is registered with the JFSC.

Protect – never share personal or financial information with someone you do not know. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

For any business claiming to be registered or operating in Jersey, members of the public can verify:

If you think you have been targeted

As relevant, please report it to:

  • the JFSC’s Enforcement team
  • the States of Jersey Police
  • your bank – if you have already made a payment

You can follow the Jersey Fraud Prevention Forum on Facebook or LinkedIn for guidance on avoiding scams and what to do if you think you have been scammed:

For further enquiries, please contact the JFSC’s Enforcement team.

You can also call our confidential whistleblowing line on +44 (0)1534 887557.