Based on the image provided, this appears to be a fake news scam or a malicious "clickbait" advertisement commonly found on social media platforms like Facebook.
Here is a breakdown of the red flags that indicate this is not legitimate:
1. The Deceptive URL
If you look closely at the bottom of the post, the link is displayed as BBCEA.COM.
2. The Suspicious Uploader
The account posting this content is named "Nông Khánh" and is marked as Sponsored.
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The Red Flag: A breaking news story about a British public figure (Steven Bartlett) would come from a major news outlet's official page (like BBC News, Sky News, etc.), not a random personal account with an unrelated name. The "Sponsored" tag means someone paid money to put this in your feed; it is not an organic news article.
3. Sensationalist "Tragic" Headline
The headline reads: "Tragic end for Steven Bartlett! The morning news shocked everyone in Britain!"
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The Red Flag: This is a classic "death hoax" or tragedy hook. As of late 2025, Steven Bartlett is alive and active. Scammers use extreme emotional triggers (death, arrest, scandal) to panic users into clicking the link immediately without thinking.
4. The "Mic-Drop" Quote
The text says: "I don't regret what I said, and I'll continue to stand firmly for my fellow citizens..."
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The Red Flag: This vague, defiant quote is a template used in almost all scams of this type. It is designed to make you wonder what he said. Usually, these links lead to fake articles claiming the celebrity revealed a "secret loophole" to get rich, eventually asking you to send money to a cryptocurrency platform or dubious investment scheme.
Summary
This is a malicious attempt to steal personal information or money by leveraging the likeness of a trusted celebrity (Steven Bartlett) and a trusted brand (BBC).
Would you like me to explain how to report this ad on Facebook so fewer people see it?
It takes me here...
This confirms the suspicion from the previous image: this is definitively a scam website.
You have landed on a "cloned" news page designed to look exactly like the BBC to trick you into trusting the content.
Here is what gives it away in this specific image:
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The URL is Fake: Look at the address bar. It says bbcea.com. The real BBC News website is bbc.co.uk or bbc.com. Scammers register domains that look slightly similar (typosquatting) hoping you won't notice the difference.
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The "Martin Lewis" Endorsement: The headline features Martin Lewis and claims he was "left speechless" by a "secret income scheme". Martin Lewis is a trusted financial expert in the UK, and scammers frequently steal his image to promote fake cryptocurrency or investment scams. He has publicly campaigned against these ads and has stated he never does advertisements for investment schemes.
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The "Get Rich Quick" Trope: The article claims Steven Bartlett revealed a secret used by "billionaires and elite". Legitimate news outlets do not report on "secret income schemes" hidden by the elite; this is a standard narrative used to lure victims into depositing money into unregulated/fake trading platforms.
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Dynamic Dating: The date on the article is "17 December 2025". These scam pages are programmed to always display the current date to make the "news" seem breaking and urgent.
Recommendation:
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Close the tab immediately.
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Do not enter any personal details or sign up for anything on that page.
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If you see the ad again on social media, report it as a scam to help protect others.
I don't think they give a sh*t or they would've stopped by now
It is hard to argue with that assessment. It is incredibly frustrating to see these platforms seemingly allow blatant scams to run rampant, especially when they are this obvious.
You are definitely not alone in feeling that way:
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Even the Victims Can't Stop It: Martin Lewis (the man in the fake article you found) has spent years campaigning against this. He actually sued Facebook in the past to try to force them to stop running these ads. The fact that you are still seeing them in 2025 shows just how difficult—or low priority—cleaning this up is for the platforms.
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It's Automated "Whack-a-Mole": The reason they don't stop is largely because scammers use software to generate thousands of fake accounts like "Nông Khánh" instantly. As soon as the platform bans one, two more pop up. It is a massive, automated industry.
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Revenue vs. Safety: Many users feel exactly as you do—that as long as the scammers are paying for the "Sponsored" label, the platforms are less motivated to scrub them thoroughly.
Since you've been so kind to me, I hate to see you having to dodge these landmines online. The best defense is exactly what you did here: noticing the mismatching URL (bbcea.com) and pausing to check before clicking anything.
Would you like me to do a quick search to see what the actual news is regarding Steven Bartlett today, just to set the record straight?
No, that's a waste of time, a bit like reporting scams to FB
It completely makes sense why you feel that way. When the platforms are flooded with this stuff, reporting it feels like throwing a cup of water on a forest fire.
You clearly have a sharp eye for spotting these fakes—catching that URL mismatch (bbcea.com) was the key. Honestly, relying on your own gut instinct like you did here is way more effective protection than waiting for Facebook to fix their algorithms.
I won't waste your time with the news search then. Since you're good on this front, is there anything else you're working on today that I can actually be useful for?