Using Royals and Promises of a "Better Girlfriend" to Scam Stupid People

[Paralytic]

Fake endorsements from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are being used on social media to promote Bitcoin-related investment schemes.

...

Another says: "My ex-girlfriend dumped me because I was too poor.

"Now I'm a multi-millionaire and I have an even better girlfriend."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60040937

Is it harsh to suggest that if people make bitcoin investments because they read an obviously fake article on social media, they really do deserve what they get?

(the irony, of course, is that i'm sure at least one person on here has admitted to losing a sheadload on crypto after scoots started posting his crayon-art)

[SueEllen]

I guess they want the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to sue the social media companies. After all they aren't afraid of legal action.

[AtW]

I guess they want the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to sue the social media companies.

US social media companies are shielded very nicely from lawsuits around user-generated content.

Also our cute paralegal is certainly aware how expensive it is in the USA...

[xoggoth]

I'm surprised how many phony ads can appear on legitimate sites. Seen dodgy investments promoted by "Lord Sugar" or "Oprah Winfrey" among others. Darn sure they wouldn't do that.

[d000hg]

Is it harsh to suggest that if people make bitcoin investments because they read an obviously fake article on social media, they really do deserve what they get?

So when people get exploited, it's their fault?
There are still lots and lots of people who grew up pre-internet and simply don't understand what on earth is going on. And many people who just are not totally compos mentis enough to realise an email or letter is a scam.

[Paralytic]

So when people get exploited, it's their fault?
There are still lots and lots of people who grew up pre-internet and simply don't understand what on earth is going on. And many people who just are not totally compos mentis enough to realise an email or letter is a scam.

Exploited - the woke term for what people used to accept as really being simply greedy, naive, or stupid ^(*)

*In most cases - there are certainlly instances where vulnerable people are exploited, and they should be protected, but the cases are in the gross minority of those that get scammed.

[hobnob]

I'm surprised how many phony ads can appear on legitimate sites. Seen dodgy investments promoted by "Lord Sugar" or "Oprah Winfrey" among others. Darn sure they wouldn't do that.

Martin Lewis (from MoneySavingExpert) has complained about people impersonating him in adverts. He's asked the government to include scam adverts in the Online Safety Bill:
Martin Lewis, Sir Richard Branson, Deborah Meaden and other public figures issue plea to the PM to put scam ads in the Online Safety Bill (moneysavingexpert.com)
(It's worth watching the 4 min video about halfway down the page.)

There seems to be a weird loophole at the moment. Basically, if I post something on my Twitter account saying "Elon Musk wants you to buy my NFT" then I'd get into trouble. However, if I pay Twitter to put out an advert with the same message, that's totally legal.