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A fake Telegram channel purporting to be Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has targeted party supporters, soliciting donations to become a “VIP Member”.
Reform UK has sent out a warning over a recent scam that has encouraged party supporters to donate to become a “VIP Member”.
In a recent email, the party confirmed that a fake account pretending to be Nigel Farage contacted supporters via messaging application Telegram.
Individuals who have been contacted by the account are encouraged to report the activity to the police.
“We have been made aware of attempts to defraud members of the public, including party members, on the messaging platform Telegram. If you use this app, please beware of attempts under the guise of our leader ‘Nigel Farage MP’ to contact you and ask you to make a donation in order to become a ‘VIP Member’,” the warning said.
“This is a SCAM, and if you or anyone you know have been contacted, then please report this to the party who are in contact with the police.”
The warning comes as Farage appointed his leadership team following this month’s general election.
In the shuffle, Richard Tice MP was named as deputy leader, both in the Commons and in the party at large. Meanwhile, Lee Anderson MP will become the chief whip, and Zia Yusuf will be the new party chairman.
Yusuf detailed the party’s priorities in a recent statement: “It is an honour to be appointed chairman of Reform UK. Against all odds, under Nigel Farage’s leadership, our people’s movement won 4 million votes, elected five MPs with 98 second places.
“This is just the beginning. The important work of professionalising the party, building national infrastructure and continuing to grow membership has already begun. I will bring all my expertise, energy and passion to the role to ensure we achieve our mission of returning Great Britain to greatness.”
Liam Garman is the editor of leading Australian security and defence publications Cyber Daily and Defence Connect.
Liam began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed a range of international media and communications campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to researching and writing extensively on geopolitics and defence, specifically in North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Masters of Strategy and Security from UNSW Canberra, with a thesis on postmodernism and disinformation operations.