What are the red flags of this scam?

A sponsored social media advert shows a celebrity appearing to endorse a specific trading platform — real endorsements are on the celebrity's own verified accounts, not in paid adverts • The platform is not registered with the FCA — check at https://register.fca.org.uk before depositing a penny • Profits appear implausibly fast (20–50% in the first week) — no legitimate investment returns this reliably • You are assigned a 'personal account manager' who contacts you regularly and encourages ever-larger deposits • When you try to withdraw, you are told you must pay a 'tax compliance fee', 'verification fee', or 'unlock deposit' first • The platform exists only as a website or app you were linked to — it is not listed in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store under that name

What should I do if this happened to me?

If a celebrity appears to endorse an investment in a social media ad, assume it is a deepfake. Report the advert using the platform's report button. • Before investing anywhere, check the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk and the FCA Warning List at https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/warning-list-unauthorised-firms. • If you have already deposited money, stop all further payments immediately — 'fees' to unlock withdrawals are a second fraud layered on the first. • Contact your bank on the number on the back of your card and explain what has happened — some banks can recall recent transfers. • If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it. • Report to Report Fraud at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

CRITICAL investment Last reported: 26 Sept 2026 Share

An advert shows Martin Lewis or a Dragons' Den star endorsing a trading platform — it is a deepfake

Q: Is this a scam?

Yes. This is a documented scam pattern. AI deepfake videos of UK celebrities (Martin Lewis, Keir Starmer, Peter Jones, Richard Branson) appear in social media ads promoting platforms like "Quantum AI". Victims deposit £250–£5,000, watch fake profits grow on a dashboard, then face endless "tax" or "unlocking" fees when they try to withdraw. Investment fraud hit £221.5m in 2025, up 40%.

AI deepfake videos of UK celebrities (Martin Lewis, Keir Starmer, Peter Jones, Richard Branson) appear in social media ads promoting platforms like "Quantum AI". Victims deposit £250–£5,000, watch fake profits grow on a dashboard, then face endless "tax" or "unlocking" fees when they try to withdraw. Investment fraud hit £221.5m in 2025, up 40%.

Also known as: Quantum AI scam UK, deepfake Martin Lewis investment scam, fake Dragons Den investment ad, celebrity trading platform scam UK, AI investment fraud UK, Martin Lewis Bitcoin scam

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
! If you installed any "support", "server", "refund", or remote-access app at their request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.): disconnect the internet now, then run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.

What to do right now

1 If a celebrity appears to endorse an investment in a social media ad, assume it is a deepfake. Report the advert using the platform's report button.
2 Before investing anywhere, check the FCA Register at https://register.fca.org.uk and the FCA Warning List at https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/warning-list-unauthorised-firms.
3 If you have already deposited money, stop all further payments immediately — 'fees' to unlock withdrawals are a second fraud layered on the first.
4 Contact your bank on the number on the back of your card and explain what has happened — some banks can recall recent transfers.
5 If you installed any 'support' or 'server' or 'refund app' or remote-access app at the scammer's request (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, etc.), run free SeraphSecure (https://www.seraphsecure.com) to detect and remove it.
6 Report to Report Fraud at https://www.reportfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

Was remote-access software installed?

If a scammer asked you to install AnyDesk, TeamViewer, Quick Support, or any remote-access app, your device may still be compromised.

Run SeraphSecure to detect and remove it →

Red flags

⚠ A sponsored social media advert shows a celebrity appearing to endorse a specific trading platform — real endorsements are on the celebrity's own verified accounts, not in paid adverts
⚠ The platform is not registered with the FCA — check at https://register.fca.org.uk before depositing a penny
⚠ Profits appear implausibly fast (20–50% in the first week) — no legitimate investment returns this reliably
⚠ You are assigned a 'personal account manager' who contacts you regularly and encourages ever-larger deposits
⚠ When you try to withdraw, you are told you must pay a 'tax compliance fee', 'verification fee', or 'unlock deposit' first
⚠ The platform exists only as a website or app you were linked to — it is not listed in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store under that name

Known variants

Illegal finfluencer variant: an Instagram or TikTok account with a lavish lifestyle promotes an unregistered platform using a referral code. The finfluencer is paid per signup but the platform is a scam or UCIS (unregulated collective investment scheme).

Last seen: 9/14/2026
Remote-access progression: after initial deposit, victim is moved to WhatsApp, persuaded to open multiple online accounts, then scammer requests remote computer access to 'help manage' the portfolio — building trust over weeks before encouraging large loans to invest more.

Last seen: 9/14/2026
Sports celebrity / fake casino: Facebook ads use images of Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, or footballers like Jude Bellingham to promote fake online casinos. Tesco branding was misused for a fake 'Tesco casino'. Victims deposit and cannot withdraw; a 'verification agent' call demands a further compliance fee. Peaks August–September during Premier League season.

Last seen: 9/26/2026

Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes

What to do right now

Red flags

Known variants

Sources