Fact CheckedLast Updated on June 8, 2023 by Stephan Lindburg
Academy Award-winning actor Christoph Waltz has recently been appearing in people’s social media feeds, supposedly offering access to an exclusive Bitcoin investment opportunity. However, anyone who follows those ads soon finds themselves and the center of a Bitcoin scam. The endorsement from Christoph Waltz is entirely fabricated – just one of the tricks crypto scammers have up their sleeves.
Fake Endorsements From Actor Christoph Waltz Play Key Role in New Bitcoin Scam
Today, Bitcoin scams have become a hallmark of social media. Lax attitudes from social media platforms, ineffective regulation, and the hype around crypto have all led to a field day for scammers. They draw in more victims with every passing day, leaving many everyday people unable to recover their lost money. Why Do These Crypto Scam Ads Feature Christoph Waltz?
At first glance, the decision to fake celebrity endorsements might seem odd. However, scammers know what they’re doing and have spent years identifying the most effective techniques. Their fake endorsement scheme is compelling when it comes to drawing in more victims.
However, it’s important to note that Christoph Waltz is just one example of a fake celebrity endorsement scam. Many others have been used over the years, with some current popular names making the rounds, including Natalie Bar, James Corden, and Kate Moss. The use of Austrian-German actor Christoph Waltz does represent a bit of a departure from the status quo for Bitcoin scammers.
Their efforts typically target British and Australian celebrities, casting a wide net while also focusing on regional stars as well. Unlike many other examples, some of the fake ads featuring Waltz are in German. Scammers typically focus on English-speaking victims but now seem to
be widening their approach.
Making fake ads featuring movie stars and other TV personalities is a common tactic among scammers. It attached a familiar name to their outlandish claims. Instead of looking at their promises on an objective level, fans are more likely to simply take the fake endorsement at face value.
The scammers abuse the trust that figures have built up with their fans over decades. Christoph Waltz, in particular, is among the most prolific actors worldwide. He is well known for his collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, having appeared in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained and winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for both roles.
Waltz continues his active acting career to this day, making him a clear choice for scammers trying to attach a clearly identifiable name to their fraudulent social media advertisements.
How Do The Scammers Steal Their Victims’ Money?
If you see any sort of advertisement promising significant profits from crypto, you shouldn’t follow it. That’s especially true if you see a celebrity endorsement. These fake ads are rampant and well-known, but they still bring in enough victims to make them worthwhile for scammers.
If you follow one of these ads, you’ll be greeted with further lies trying to get you to send the scammers money. Most of the ads go to fake news websites, carefully designed to look like the real thing. You’ll think you’re reading a genuine news article highlighting an exclusive opportunity, but the entire thing is made up by scammers.
In the case of Christoph Waltz and other fake celebrity endorsements, you’ll find a phony story about a supposed interview. The scammers say that Waltz appeared in a television interview detailing his secret to Bitcoin success. The website includes many pictures from unrelated interviews featuring Waltz in an attempt to appear legitimate.
The entire story is fraudulent, and Waltz has never endorsed anything related to crypto. If you follow a link to the supposed Bitcoin trading platform, you’ll be offered the opportunity to sign up and start investing. However, the scammers simply take everything you send them. They’ll provide fake numbers about supposed gains to try to trick you into sending them even more.
If you ever try to get your money back, they will either cut contact or keep pressuring you to send more. Avoiding Bitcoin Investment Scams
There are countless examples of Bitcoin scams online today, some featuring fake celebrity endorsements and some using other methods.
The only way to be sure that you aren’t being taken advantage of by an outright scam is to verify that the platform you’re working with is registered and legitimate. Search for warnings and reviews of the platform online and check with your country’s trading regulator for a current license. Have some question for us? Reach out and send us a message via our contact page.
