- Crypto scammers post fake investment ads featuring the Grand Tour trio.
- Jeremy Clarkson calls crypto “ghastly” in response.
- Online debate on crypto legitimacy ensues.
Crypto scammers try every trick in the book to separate unwitting folk from their hard-earned money, with nothing off limits for these con artists. The latest scheme afflicting the industry involves slapping images of the Grand Tour presenters Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond on fake crypto investment opportunities.
The Grand Tour presenters, never ones to mince words, took to X to distance themselves from the scam ads while condemning the underhanded tactics being employed. Funnily enough, Clarkson admitted to being baffled by digital assets but, despite the knowledge gap, assumed enough to call them “ghastly” to spark debate on the legitimacy of cryptocurrency among his followers.
Jeremy Clarkson Is Not a Crypto Fan
Jeremy Clarkson wasted no time in shaking off rumors linking him and May to cryptocurrency projects. The veteran automotive journalist quipped, “I don’t even know what crypto currency is,” followed by, “It sounds ghastly,” dealing a blow to those convinced about the game-changing benefits of digital assets.
May also moved to distance himself from ads, saying he knows his mug has been plastered across crypto scam posts, but “it’s all balls.” In the dry-witted tone we’ve come to associate with May, he offered his own distinctly unfinancial advice to “go to the pub” rather than send money to scammers.
Sponsored
Realizing that scammers had also used Hammond’s image to promote their shady scheme, May turned up the heat on the crypto con artists, saying, “There’s grifting and then there’s stretching credibility to the point where it snaps.”
As expected, Clarkson and May’s tweets laid bare the divergence in public opinion on cryptocurrency, with each extreme convinced they have it figured out.
Public Opinion on Crypto Passionately Divided
Clarkson and May’s dismissive takes opened the floodgates for both extremes of the crypto debate to wade in on matters. The anti-crypto crowd jumped at the chance to liken digital currencies to pyramid schemes. “It’s like a pyramid scheme, but even more triangular this time,” one reply added. Another bluntly warned, “It is. Mostly scams. Stay clear.”
Sponsored
However, the blockchain bros were not going to take this lying down. “Wait till you figure out how centralized government currency works,” a crypto proponent fired back at Clarkson’s “ghastly” remark. Another was puzzled by May’s dismissal, pointing out that his scientific mindset would likely lead him to explore crypto and recognize its potential as the way forward.
But May refused to be baited into an ideological clash on the merits of cryptocurrency, simply clarifying, “I’m merely pointing out that these posts are bogus.”
On the Flipside
- The Grand Tour’s fifth series, released this year, will be the last as Clarkson stated they are too old to continue and feel they have done everything possible with a car.
- Fake British celebrity crypto scam ads are a long-running problem, with Bear Grylls, Ian Wright, and Gino D’Acampo victims of the practice.
- Another celebrity victim, Martin Lewis, took legal action against Meta for promoting scam ads and won a £3 million settlement in 2019, which was donated to anti-scam projects.
Why This Matters
The attempt to leverage Clarkson, May, and Hammond’s popularity for underhanded cryptocurrency profit highlights the Wild West landscape still dominating much of the crypto sphere. Preventing high-profile figures from becoming unwitting shills for fraud is paramount to ensuring the long-term credibility of cryptocurrencies. Moreover, fierce debates on crypto’s legitimacy show how far the industry is from mass adoption.
Learn more about scammers’ social media exploits to steal user funds here:
How Scammers Exploited Google and Twitter Ads to Siphon $58M
Solana gets flooded by racist memecoins sparking debate on freedom of expression. Read more here:
