KENNY: I’M TARGETED BY ONLINE SCAMMERS
Radio host blasts bogus adverts and fake photograph of his ‘arrest’
PAT Kenny is seeking legal advice after a fake picture of him was spread online claiming he had been arrested and escorted from the Newstalk radio station.
The host has also said his image has been used on bogus online ads promoting erectile dysfunction drugs.
They have allegedly been appearing on well-known news sites with the 71-year-old saying they have also been spotted on Google Ads and Facebook.
The veteran broadcaster told the Irish Mirror a solicitor’s letter has been sent to companies on his behalf, but he said a more effective way to combat fake ads is to “expose them to the light of day”.
Pat said: “At the moment I’m not contemplating it [legal action].
“But I believe bringing these things into the light of day is the best way to make the ne’er-do-wells who are doing this stop.”
Broadcaster Miriam O’callaghan recently announced she was taking legal action after fake adverts using her image were published on Face- book. A number of people reported seeing them, which spread fake claims she was leaving RTE to concentrate on a supposed anti-wrinkle face cream business.
In yesterday’s Sunday Independent, Mr Kenny gave further details of the fake adverts that are playing on the trust the public place in him.
He added: “I was on a news website one morning and a picture of me advertising drugs for erectile dysfunction popped up. I just thought, ‘This is ridiculous. There will be people who believe all this’.”
Last Thursday the Dubliner spoke on air saying he’s been in touch with “social media giants” about the problem because “somebody is making money out of them and doing so under false pretences”.
He added: “I just thought I’d let everyone know that if you see me advertising hair colour, erectile dysfunction materials, muscle enhancers, or any such thing, it’s not me.
“It’s a scam of some sort. So don’t buy it with my imagined recommendation.”