Scam and Fraud

VerySaid68

25th April I saw the programme with Martin Lewis on the This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, bitcoin and her opening an account on air, it came up when I was looking at my Instagram.  I clicked on the link and it asked me for my email address and contact number.

 I received a call then email from Monica Bailey giving me a link and a password to a trading account.  Monica said I would receive a call from a financial advisor, which I did Ruby Fischer.

Ruby said as I was very new to trading she would support me. I opened Any desk, now I know it was a mistake.  I have lost a lot of money, which I needed for my mortgage.  I then got hounded my calls from a Lucas Graf and James Owen (probably not their names).  Saying I needed to add more money to get my money out.

I hope no one else gets scammed as I have. I thought as it had Martin Lewis on it would be ok. 

Please stay away from any connections like this. 

monica.bailey@isa-investment.info

isa-investments.info

ruby.fischer@isa-investment.info

Blockchain

 

Albermarle

25th April I saw the programme with Martin Lewis on the This Morning with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, bitcoin and her opening an account on air, it came up when I was looking at my Instagram

The programme would have been  faked for Instagram. I am 100% sure none of those celebrities would have promoted opening a bitcoin account on mainstream TV.

It is too late now but the advice is to never use social media in any way to drive any financial/investing ideas. It is rife with scammers.

I thought as it had Martin Lewis on it would be ok. 

Have the 'Martin Lewis' scammers finally been uncovered? (moneysavingexpert.com)

Dragon’s Den star exploited by scam-ad criminals | NatWest Group

TadleyBaggie

VerySaid68 said:

I thought as it had Martin Lewis on it would be ok. 

No it hasn't, Martin has said many times he does not do this. Any financial site that claims ML is associated with them is a scam for sure.

Pollycat

+1 to the 2 replies above.

From a search of the main site for 'bitcoin':
Search (moneysavingexpert.com)

including these 3:

Warning: Fake Martin Lewis Bitcoin scam emails (moneysavingexpert.com)

Police issue warning over fake emails claiming to be from Martin Lewis after more than 1,000 reported in just three days (moneysavingexpert.com)

Martin Lewis scam adverts (moneysavingexpert.com)

Albermarle

 I have lost a lot of money, which I needed for my mortgage.

Be aware that it is quite common that at some point you will be contacted by someone saying they can get your money back.
All you have to do is send them an advance fee ( or multiple ones ) which of course you will never see again....

Pollycat

Albermarle said:

 I have lost a lot of money, which I needed for my mortgage.

Be aware that it is quite common that at some point you will be contacted by someone saying they can get your money back.
All you have to do is send them an advance fee ( or multiple ones ) which of course you will never see again....

And I guess it's a sad lesson in not speculating with money that is earmarked for important bills.

Trustpilot has some reviews on this company - all recent are negative:
ISA Investment Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of isa-investment.info (trustpilot.com)

Always a good idea to check out any company that you are considering doing business with before you part with any money.

Although it would be great if nobody else gets scammed, I'm sure that won't be the case.

Just a bit curious that the OP has named 3 contacts with 'ISA' in their name.
Can you even have a bitcoin ISA? 

Albermarle

Just a bit curious that the OP has named 3 contacts with 'ISA' in their name.
Can you even have a bitcoin ISA? 

Pretty sure not, as it is an unregulated product.

The ISA name is included to give it some veneer of security, just all part of the fraud.

Pollycat

Albermarle said:

Just a bit curious that the OP has named 3 contacts with 'ISA' in their name.
Can you even have a bitcoin ISA? 

Pretty sure not, as it is an unregulated product.

The ISA name is included to give it some veneer of security, just all part of the fraud.

That's what I thought.

Pollycat

I found this thread whilst I was looking for something else:
Real or fake? — MoneySavingExpert Forum

HillStreetBlues

Bitcoin ISA (I Scam Anyone)

TheBanker

If you Google 'Martin Lewis Bitcoin', every link on the first page is to a page saying that Martin Lewis does not endorse Bitcoin. For me the first link is: https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/22135668/warning-fake-martin-lewis-bitcoin-scam/

The next one is: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/martin-lewis-left-feeling-sick-26350292

I do sympathise that you have lost all your money, but I hope this thread will prompt other readers to do at least some basic due diligence before parting with substantial sums.