Barclays

71-year-old Welsh pensioner loses £58,400 to deepfake Martin Lewis crypto scam via Facebook ad and AnyDesk remote access software

A 71-year-old Welsh pensioner, Adrian Kearney, lost £58,400 in a cryptocurrency scam that used a deepfake video of Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert. The scam occurred earlier this year and involved a fraudulent Facebook advertisement promising high returns on a small investment. Scammers gained control of Kearney’s mobile phone after he clicked on the link and installed the remote access software AnyDesk. They then took out multiple loans in his name and drained his Barclays and Monzo accounts. The scammer, who claimed to be from a wealth management company, stopped responding after the final payment of £9,500 in early May. Kearney is now facing monthly loan repayments exceeding £1,000 and has sought legal help to reclaim his money from the banks.