Theguardian iconTheguardianJun 30, 2026 ~1 min source read

‘Am I losing this battle? Yes’: Martin Lewis on the online scams that steal his identity – and others’ life savings

Trusted by millions, the finance expert has seen his name and face used to mis-sell a string of fake investments. "THEY ARE BASTARDS!" Lewis wrote at the top of his social media post about it.

‘Am I losing this battle? Yes’: Martin Lewis on the online scams that steal his identity – and others’ life savings
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Trusted by millions, the finance expert has seen his name and face used to mis-sell a string of fake investments.

"THEY ARE BASTARDS!" Lewis wrote at the top of his social media post about it.

Even though the personal finance expert is a veteran campaigner against fraud, he says he had "tears running down my face".

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The useful part

Trusted by millions, the finance expert has seen his name and face used to mis-sell a string of fake investments. "THEY ARE BASTARDS!" Lewis wrote at the top of his social media post about it. Even though the personal finance expert is a veteran campaigner against fraud, he says he had "tears running down my face".

How it works

  • Still, people fall victim to deepfake videos and frauds that appear to show him offering investments.
  • To hammer home the point, his social media profile picture has the words "I don't do ads" tattooed on his forehead.
  • The scale of harm is great enough that MoneySavingExpert (MSE), the company Lewis founded in 2003 and sold in 2012 for up to £87m – he is now its executive chair – has someone full-time handling these cases.

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