⚠️ Employment Scam Warning ⚠️

The internet is rife with scams, some laughably obvious, while others manage to slip through the cracks — even for the most tech-savvy among us. The latest scam to surface has indirectly involved Arbtalk Media, with scammers creating a fake Gmail account ([email protected]) and impersonating a well-known influencer and Husqvarna ambassador, Kimberley Both.

🎯 The Scam

A victim was approached on Facebook by what appeared to be Kimberley Both, but was in fact a cloned account designed to gain trust. After moving the conversation to WhatsApp, the scammer introduced a third party, claiming they could assist in relocating the victim from Australia to Europe for work.

The victim was asked to provide personal details, including a CV and passport-style photos, before being informed that a $1050 fee was required to begin the necessary paperwork. The email requesting payment came from [email protected], which raised suspicion and prompted the victim to contact me directly.

Thankfully, the victim reached out before parting with any money, and I was able to confirm the scam.

🛑 Kimberley Both Had No Involvement

It is important to stress that Kimberley Both had no knowledge or involvement in this scam and is also a victim in this situation. The scammers used her name and reputation to gain the victim's trust.

In this case, there were three victims:

1. The individual targeted by the scam
2. Myself, Arbtalk Media, whose name was used in the fake email address
3. Kimberley Both, whose identity was impersonated

🔍 How to Stay Vigilant

Social media scams using well-known faces are becoming increasingly common, with cloned accounts targeting even small influencers. In this case, Kimberley reported the fake account to Facebook multiple times, yet no action has been taken.

🚩 Red Flags to Watch For

✅ Check for the verified blue tick on larger accounts. Scammers often place a fake blue tick in the profile picture to trick people.

✅ Carefully check email addresses in any correspondence. For Arbtalk, all official emails will come from @arbtalk.co.uk or @arbtalkmedia.co.uk.

✅ If in doubt, do what this victim did — contact the company directly.

🚫 Don't Become the Next Victim

Scammers are becoming more sophisticated, and their tactics are evolving. Stay alert and report any suspicious accounts or communications immediately.

If you have any concerns, feel free to reach out to us directly at [email protected].

🔔 Please share this warning to help prevent others from falling victim to this scam.