Google is investigating the fake ads that have appeared on respected websites.
It comes as vulnerable people in Ireland are reported to have lost millions of euro in cryptocurrency-based frauds.
In a separate scams, one victim is said to have lost €1m, while many more are reported to have had €50,000-€200,000 stolen after they were enticed into buying non-existent cryptocurrency.
In the most recent crypto scam,which features Mr Varadkar’s image without his permission, readers are told “Leo is under a lot of pressure” and “banks are chasing him after he revealed his source of income”.
It then creates a false narrative about Mr Varadkar, claiming he is encouraging people to invest their cash in cryptocurrency for significant returns.
The ad, styled to make it appear like a legitimate news article, claims Mr Varadkar is “honest about how he makes his money” and has appeared on The Late Late Show to announce a new “wealth loophole”, which says “he can transform anyone into a millionaire within three-four months”.
The fake ad states: “Leo urged everyone in Ireland to jump into this amazing opportunity before the big banks shut it down for good.”
The scam, which has appeared in adverts served automatically by Google on legitimate news websites, but which are not controlled by those sites, falsely quotes him as saying: “My number one money maker is a new cryptocurrency autotrading program.” It uses the US spelling of programme.
It encourages the…
