It’s not the first time this has happened to an RTÉ star.
Patrick Kielty has become the latest Irish TV host to fall victim to online scammers after fake images of the Late Late Show host ‘being arrested’ have emerged.
The false images have appeared online along with a fake version of the Irish Examiner news site.
The caption reads: “The TV presenter was arrested because of his on-screen remarks. These words could have ruined his career forever.”
Patrick Kielty latest victim to online scammers as fake ‘arrest’ images emerge
Since the images have emerged, RTÉ have stated that Kielty has declined to comment on the issue.
The RTÉ host is just the latest in a number of Irish TV stars who have been targeted by similar fake images in the past.
Last year, a similar scam was reported targeting Virgin Media host Tommy Bowe, with the former rugby star’s image placed on a fake Irish Examiner story, also showing him being arrested by gardaí.
Another image of Bowe showed him in the Ireland AM studio and featured the caption: “He’s been hiding it for years. The truth came out live on air.”
Around the time the fake images were circulating, Bowe took to Instagram to say, “I see the scammers are back again! If you come across can you please report and send on to me.”
It was reported in December that the Ireland AM host was working with Meta to shut down the scammers.
Fake images depicting Ryan Tubridy, Anne Doyle, Graham Norton, Lucy Kennedy, Doireann Garrihy and Miriam O’Callaghan have all appeared online in the past.
In February 2022, Meta apologised to Miriam O’Callaghan after the Prime Time host reached a court settlement with the company over fake ads claiming she had left her job to promote skincare products.
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