Melanie Sykes’s Shocking Remarks Uncovered!

During the live broadcast of the show "This Morning"

Well we've all seen these pieces of fake news online...

This celebrity has been on this show and halfway through everyone started arguing about making money and the celebrity revealed they don;t actually do any work and that they make all of their money out of Bitcoin Sucker or something. It's the same old story. 

The thing is, of course, that none of these are true. They are all just fake new scams designed by scammers to defraud people online and hide behind trusted people and names that we have gotten used to accepting the words of. 

This week they are picking on Melanie Sykes, saying that she was on the set of 'This Morning' on ITV and suddenly declared herself financially free due to some sort of website that can be accessed by anyone and that makes money with only £190 investment and allows people to earn £15,000 per month.

Now there's a reason why this sounds pretty ridiculous and that's because it is. Why on Earth would any company offer you a deal where you make seventy-five times your own investment in one month, every month? Why wouldn't they just invest their own money in it and keep quiet? The whole idea is ridiculous.

And yet here we are, looking at such a page, advertised on Facebook and live, online in the flesh! Here is the URL that they are using today, although doubtless they will have a new URL tomorrow: https://todaynow.news/65TW9Dxx

So Ben Shephard and the guest Melanie Sykes had a massive argument? Well that's not very likely as all of these shows are not quite live. They are delayed by about 20 seconds before going to air so that the producers can shut down anything untoward before they wind-up in court over anything anyone says. This has been the practice for some time when it comes to 'live' shows so there are never any real surprises except when they are by design.

As you can see from the above fake news site the BBC logo has been stolen but they have not made any real effort to emulate the BBC News website like in the example below:

These scams are very common on websites like x.com, Facebook, Instagram, MSN and Google. They are usually hidden in amongst news items and often impersonate the news and/or the platform where they are advertised. A Facebook scam ad may impersonate Facebook so that the platform lends authenticity to the scam. 

The truth is that Melanie is not making money with any stupid new app. She is making money from appearances and endorsements and does not use any of these stupid scams so do not fall for any of them!

Why a Celebrity Wouldn't Advise on Investing or Trades

A celebrity would typically avoid advising people on how to invest or trade for several reasons:

1. Legal and Regulatory Risks: Providing investment or trading advice can lead to legal issues if the advice is considered financial advice under regulatory frameworks. Most jurisdictions require financial advisors to be licensed, and giving unlicensed advice could result in fines or lawsuits.

2. Lack of Expertise: Most celebrities are not financial experts. Offering investment or trading advice could damage their credibility and reputation if their recommendations lead to losses.

3. Potential Liability: If someone follows their advice and incurs significant losses, the celebrity could face lawsuits, claiming they influenced the individual to make a poor financial decision.

4. Reputational Risk: Associating their name with failed investments, scams, or highly speculative trading strategies could tarnish their public image and brand value.

5. Conflict of Interest: If the celebrity stands to benefit financially from promoting certain investments, they might face accusations of unethical behavior, such as market manipulation or exploiting their audience for personal gain.

6. Unpredictability of Markets: Investment and trading outcomes are inherently uncertain and subject to various external factors. A celebrity would likely avoid attaching their name to advice that could backfire.

7. Broad Audience, Diverse Needs: A celebrity’s audience often includes people with vastly different financial situations, risk tolerances, and goals. Offering generic advice could be unsuitable or harmful for many followers.

For these reasons, celebrities generally steer clear of investment or trading advice, opting instead to focus on their areas of expertise or interests. If they did venture into this realm, they would have to include disclaimers or partner with licensed financial professionals or risk losing everything they have to court cases from those that felt misled or who had lost money.

Be careful online. No celebrity would ever tell you how to invest money - it is too risky and could see them in court losing everything that they have!

Why do Scammers try to Convince of a Scandal Live on Television?

Scammers on platforms like Facebook use claims of arguments breaking out on live television as a clickbait tactic to manipulate emotions and exploit curiosity. Here’s why this strategy works and how it fits into their goals:

1. Emotional Hook

• Curiosity and Drama: People are naturally drawn to drama and unexpected confrontations, especially involving public figures. The claim of a live argument triggers a "fear of missing out" (FOMO), compelling users to click and see what happened.
• Trust in Live TV: The idea that something unscripted and shocking happened on live television gives the scam a veneer of plausibility, making it more tempting to investigate.

2. Exploitation of Virality

• Social Sharing: Content suggesting controversy or conflict tends to spread quickly. Users might share the link with friends, amplifying the scam's reach.
• Engagement Metrics: Scammers rely on high engagement (clicks, comments, and shares) to boost the visibility of their posts or ads on social platforms.

3. Redirecting to Scams

• Phishing: Clicking the link often redirects users to phishing sites designed to steal personal information, such as login credentials, credit card numbers, or other sensitive data.
• Malware: The link might also lead to sites that download malware onto the user's device, giving scammers access to personal files or tracking online activity.
• Fake Offers or Investments: Some scams try to redirect users to fraudulent investment opportunities, using the initial bait as a way to gain attention.

4. Credibility Through Familiar Faces

• Celebrity Involvement: Scammers often associate these fake TV arguments with well-known personalities to make the claims seem credible. They might fabricate stories about a celebrity endorsing a product or making a controversial statement.
• False Urgency: Scammers claim the "live" incident just happened, creating urgency for users to click before the supposed "news" disappears.

5. Psychological Manipulation

• Cognitive Biases: The combination of shock ("An argument broke out!") and authority ("It happened on live TV!") exploits our cognitive biases, like believing information presented as urgent or authoritative.
• Pattern Recognition: These scams mimic legitimate news headlines or social media trends, making it harder to distinguish them from real events.

How to Protect Yourself:

1. Verify the Source: Check credible news outlets to confirm if the event actually occurred.
2. Inspect Links: Hover over links before clicking to see if the URL looks suspicious.
3. Report Suspicious Ads: Platforms like Facebook allow you to report misleading or scam advertisements.
4. Stay Skeptical: If it seems too dramatic or sensational to be true, it probably is.

By understanding the mechanics of these scams, users can better guard themselves against falling victim to such deceptive tactics.

Why Use Melanie Sykes as a Target?

Using a guest like Melanie Sykes as a target for scams or clickbait schemes is often a calculated move based on her public profile and the audience she attracts. Here’s why scammers might choose someone like her:

1. Recognizable but Not Overexposed

• Melanie Sykes is a well-known personality, particularly in the UK, with a long-standing career in television and media.
• She’s familiar enough to be a credible draw for audiences, but not so overexposed that the average person can instantly spot fabricated claims about her.

2. Wide Audience Appeal

• Her career spans multiple demographics, including fans of TV, radio, and lifestyle content. This gives scammers a broad audience to target, ranging from casual viewers to dedicated followers.
• Her reputation as a relatable and approachable figure can make claims about her more believable to her audience.

3. Controversy-Free Persona

• Sykes generally maintains a positive and non-controversial public image. Using her as a target for fake drama, like "an argument on live TV," contrasts sharply with her known demeanor, making the bait seem even more shocking.

4. Perceived Accessibility

• Celebrities who are seen as down-to-earth or relatable, like Melanie Sykes, might feel closer to the average person. This perceived accessibility can make the fabricated story more engaging and plausible to a wider audience.

5. Leverage of Recent Events

• Scammers often latch onto individuals who have had recent news coverage, public appearances, or personal revelations. If Sykes has been in the headlines for any reason, scammers can exploit the renewed interest in her.

6. Association with Lifestyle Topics

• Sykes’ work often intersects with lifestyle, health, and wellness—areas rife with scams like miracle cures, weight loss products, or anti-aging solutions. Using her name and image creates a bridge to these fraudulent schemes.

7. Lack of Immediate Legal Pushback

• Scammers prefer targets who are less likely to aggressively pursue legal action or may take time to discover the scam, allowing them to operate longer. While prominent figures have legal resources, their reaction might not be as immediate as larger corporations or organizations.

Example of a Scam Narrative:

A fabricated story might claim:

• "Melanie Sykes Storms Off Set After Heated Debate About a Miracle Skincare Product She Refused to Endorse!"
• This setup serves as clickbait, leading users to a fake product page or phishing site.

Counteracting the Scam:

• Fans and followers should rely on verified sources for information about celebrities.
• Celebrities like Sykes should monitor for unauthorized use of their name and image, working with legal teams to report misuse.
• Platforms like Facebook need to improve their ad and content vetting to prevent these schemes from spreading.

By choosing a figure like Melanie Sykes, scammers exploit her reputation, appeal, and the curiosity of her audience, while aiming to evade immediate detection.

So They Use Our Favourite People to Shock us the Most?

Exactly! Scammers deliberately use our favorite people or well-known, likable public figures to create maximum emotional impact and manipulate us into taking action—usually clicking on a link or engaging with their scam. Here’s how and why this tactic works so effectively:

1. Emotional Manipulation

• Shock Factor: When scammers associate unexpected or dramatic claims with someone you like or admire, it grabs your attention. This emotional jolt bypasses rational thinking, making you more likely to engage impulsively.
• Betrayal or Concern: If the claim involves scandal, conflict, or tragedy, it can evoke feelings of betrayal ("How could they do that?") or concern ("I hope they’re okay"), making the bait even more compelling.

2. Leveraging Trust

• Relatability: Your favorite celebrities often feel like people you know personally, thanks to their public persona. This familiarity fosters trust, making you more likely to believe a story involving them.
• Authority and Influence: If the scam ties the celebrity to a product or claim, their perceived authority can lend unearned credibility to the scam.

3. Engaging Curiosity

• People are naturally curious about the lives of those they admire. Scammers exploit this by promising insider information, shocking revelations, or dramatic stories that fans feel compelled to investigate.

4. Wide Reach

• Well-loved celebrities or public figures attract a large and diverse audience. By targeting someone with broad appeal, scammers maximize their potential victim pool.

5. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

• Claims like "This just happened on live TV!" or "Breaking news about [Celebrity]!" tap into our fear of missing something important or viral, prompting immediate clicks.

Why It Feels So Personal:

Scammers know that when they attack or involve someone you care about, it feels personal to you. This emotional connection lowers your defenses and makes you more vulnerable to manipulation.

Examples of Scams Using Favorite Figures:

1. Drama: "Melanie Sykes storms off live TV after heated argument!"
2. Endorsements: "David Beckham’s secret investment leaves financial experts furious!"
3. Health Shocks: "Beloved star collapses during filming—here’s why."
4. Fake Tragedy: "Fans mourn unexpected loss of [Celebrity]."

How to Protect Yourself:

• Pause and Verify: Resist the urge to click immediately. Look for verified news from trusted sources.
• Inspect Links: Check if the URL is suspicious or mismatched with the claimed source.
• Report and Block: Flag the content as misleading or fraudulent on the platform.
• Educate Others: Share warnings about these tactics with friends and family to reduce the scam's effectiveness.

Scammers weaponize our emotions and admiration for public figures to trick us into acting without thinking. Awareness of these tactics is the best defense!