Paul Hollywood warns fans that conmen are using his picture to scam vulnerable women for cash
PAUL Hollywood has warned his female fans to be careful of fake accounts posing as him to try and con them of their money.
The Great British Bake Off judge, 54, took to Instagram to say he'd been warned multiple times about swindlers pretending to be him to scam women.
He asked his followers to be careful and to always look out for the 'blue tick' which shows an account is authentic and verified as the official account of a celebrity .
Paul wrote: "Morning I’m still receiving messages saying there are scammers pretending to be me contacting you, look for the blue tick highlighted, also look at the follower number!
"I don’t have a private account.. please be careful , watch the GBBO, and Great British Bake off scammers too, look for blue tick ALWAYS!!!!!! X"
His fans replied to his shocking post, confirming they had almost been the victim of the scammers.
One Instagram user wrote: “Yes I’ve had loads trying to add me some with just your picture and their own name have reported them all.”
Another added: “I got one from a guy who pretended to be your manager... i didn’t reply!”
While a third said said: “I got it on twitter saying I won to meet you, I’ve emailed u ages ago about it, who was doing it turned really nasty as well x”
A fourth commented: “I receive a lot of followers with your photos. I report and block immediately.”
Paul's scam warning comes after former GBBO judge Mary Berry was left feeling "shattered" after her name was being used to sell CBD oil and face cream online.
The 85-year-old told Watchdog presenter Matt Allwright, that hundreds of customers had started emailing her.
"I had Polio when I was a child and because I've got a bit of a wonky hand, they think its arthritis and perhaps this is the cure for arthritis."
Facebook removed the fake ads but many fans had already bought the products.
"I get more emails than I can read because I start to read them, and then I begin to get upset and I think I just can't read anymore," Mary said.
"I would like the social medium platforms that all these are claims are on, should be vetted before they go on and checked out."