Financial adviser Chinkee Tan cried foul over the use of his name and face in social media by what he described as false news reports and deceptive online advertisements.
In a statement, Tan, a renowned financial coach and speaker, warned the public against the use of his name and image.
He said that on September 30, 2024, he was alerted about a fake news website which claimed he was apprehended, with the intent of luring people into a cryptocurrency scam.
“We’ve recently discovered that malicious actors are using my name as clickbait, misleading the public into believing false reports about me being arrested. This is not only a blatant lie, but it’s also a harmful tactic meant to defraud individuals. I urge everyone to be cautious and verify the legitimacy of such reports,” Tan said.
He said fake news was initially found on fraudulent Facebook ads and websites posing as credible news sources.
“These misleading ads continue to circulate despite multiple efforts to report and remove them,” he said.
Tan’s team reported the fake news to Facebook and GMA News after discovering the unauthorized use of GMA’s branding in spreading the misinformation.
He said the issue was escalated to the NBI – Cybercrime Division for legal action, including the filing of an Affidavit of Denial and an Affidavit of Complaint.
