Poor Philippe wonders if the cryptocurrency app promoted by the Prime Minister is worth checking out or if it’s simply a scam. Unfortunately, this is not a new problem, as online scams are all too common these days. Lately, the Prime Minister’s image and name have been used illegally. Unidentified people are spreading false messages via various platforms, social media networks, or email, claiming that the Prime Minister gave investment advice live on French TV show “Daily”. However, the truth is that this is a fraudulent tactic used by scammers who rely on people’s trust in reputable sources. The Prime Minister’s office has already been notified of this incident, and the only course of action for now is to report the link to Meta group to prevent it from being circulated. The government reminds people to exercise caution when investing in cryptocurrency, especially when there is talk of high return rates or when a third party offers to control your computer. Absolute mistrust is necessary in such cases, and it is always advisable to check the authenticity of a celebrity’s recommendation.
“The Prime Minister promotes a cryptocurrency app that makes us millionaires in months. Advice or scam?”, wonders Philippe, a reader, via the orange button Alert us. It’s not new. Online scams abound on the web and all means are good for crooks to extract money.
For some weeks the name and image of our Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, have been used fraudulently. Unidentified people are broadcasting messages on various platforms, sites, social networks or directly by e-mail in which there is talk of alleged investment advice that the Prime Minister would have given live on the French television program “Daily” presented by Yann Barthes.
Report made
An interview with the Prime Minister totally bogus by the crooks. Note also that Alexander De Croo has never been invited to the French show.
In reality, criminals rely on the gullibility of some people and hope that the “Daily” cachet of information can establish some value in the content.
The Prime Minister’s Office says it has been informed of this circulating scam. François Bailly, spokesperson for Alexander De Croo, informs: “The only thing we can do at this stage is to report the link to the Meta group (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram) to prevent it from being shared and circulated.”
This is obviously fake news.
Alexander De Croo is not the first public figure to be the victim of this kind of usurpation for this cryptocurrency investment scam. In 2021, Walloon Minister-President Elio Di Rupo warned on his Instagram account: “This is obviously fake news and these publications should not be followed up on any account.” Elio Di Rupo immediately filed a complaint. Same thing for actor Benoit Poelvoorde, also in 2021. There too, the actor had filed a complaint and had made it known that the information was totally false, through the voice of his lawyer:
For his part, Alexander de Croo does not plan to file a complaint for the moment. “It’s a game of cat and mouse, it’s like mushrooms growing everywhere. If a page is deleted, its content is immediately resumed on a new one”, deplores François Bailly.
Absolute mistrust
According to the Financial Services and Markets Authority (the FSMA), the FPS Economy, the UCM and the Federal Police, cryptocurrency scams have been on the rise since the Covid-19 crisis. In question, “the deterioration of the economic situation, the hyper-connectivity or the attraction for high rates of return”, we explain. Faced with celebrities who act as trompe-l’œil, the FSMA advises “Always check the website of these celebrities to see if they actually recommend the investment. If so, be aware that while the person has a proven track record in their field, they are not yet an investment expert.”
A few tips to avoid falling into the trap, according to the federal police:
- Promise of high earnings.
- The investment is advised by celebrities.
- For some reason, you are unable to get your money back.
- A third party offers you to take control of your computer.
- The broker declares that he must have access to your financial account.
- For some reason or another, you are asked to pay an additional sum of money.
- The broker claims that due to problems with your account, the money cannot be returned to you.
- We advise you to exercise the utmost discretion.
- You are promised that you will receive more cryptocurrency if you send some yourself first.
In conclusion, it is important to be cautious and vigilant when it comes to online scams, particularly those related to cryptocurrency investments. The recent fraudulent use of the name and image of Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is just one example of how criminals exploit people’s trust in public figures to con them out of money. It is crucial to always check the validity of investment advice and to exercise discretion before investing in any scheme. Remember, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stay informed and protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.