This soccer manager is is lawyering up after his name became unwillingly embroiled in a crypto scam.
England Soccer Manager Enmeshed in Crypto Scam
According to a report in The Times, Gareth Southgate, the manager of the English national soccer team, is seeking legal help after his name was used by cryptocurrency scammers acting like celebrities on social media in an attempt to dupe victims into parting with their money.
Southgate supposedly appeared on Ellen Degeneres’ soon-to-be-canceled talk program to share his success story about investing in the “Bitcoin Bank” scheme. The impersonators were recently discovered by the Football Association in London.
Southgate, who has coached England’s soccer team since 2016, is far from the only celebrity who has been a victim of bitcoin fraud.
To give their hoax an ounce of respectability, con artists frequently employ false newspaper ads and interviews.
Other Crypto Scams
Former “Top Gear” star Jeremy Clarkson was unwittingly pushing a Bitcoin scam a few years ago. His phony endorsement began to circulate on social media, prompting a warning from local cops.
After their identities were fraudulently used for promotional purposes, cycling icon Peter Sagan and Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen had to publicly disavow their involvement in bitcoin schemes.
Some people want to blame it on social media. Martin Lewis, a financial advocate, has been fighting cryptocurrency scams for years, and has even brought a defamation action against Facebook for failing to prevent them. Lewis reached an agreement with the corporation in January of this year.
After bringing YouTube to court for selling ads to accounts behind XRP giveaway scams, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse withdrew his lawsuit against the video hosting giant in March.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has become a crypto scammer’s idol because of his huge riches and power. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, his impersonators made $2 million in the first half of 2021.
