Love Island and Towie stars to stand trial after denying ‘finfluencer’ plot to plug dodgy investments
LOVE and Towie stars will stand trial after denying being part of a “finfluencer” plot to plug dodgy investments on social media.
The celebs were allegedly paid to push Instagram posts to their followers that promoted an unauthorised foreign exchange trading scheme.
Celebrity Big Brother winner Scott Timlin, 36, also known as Scotty T and Love Island star Jamie Clayton appeared at Southwark Crown Court today.
Towie stars Lauren Goodger and Yazmin Oukhellou appeared via video link alongside former Love Islanders Biggs Chris and Rebecca Gormley.
The celebs pleaded not guilty to issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions.
Love Island star Eve Zapico will enter her plea to the same charge on September 26.
The group were all released on unconditional bail ahead of a provisional trial set for either February or March 2027.
The alleged ‘finfluencers’ were charged following a probe by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
They each face up to two years in prison if convicted.
Emmanuel Nwanze and Holly Thompson allegedly used the Instagram account @holly_fx trends, to provide advice on buying and selling investments known as contracts for difference (CFDs).
The FCA says CFDs are high-risk, with 80 per cent of customers who invest in them losing money.
Thompson and Nwanze are accused of paying the celebs to promote the account to their 4.5million followers on social media.
They also appeared in court today where they denied issuing unauthorised communications of financial promotions.
Nwanze also pleaded not guilty to one count of breaching the general prohibition of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and one of unauthorised communications of financial promotions.
Chris, 32, Clayton, 32, Goodger, 37, Gormley, 26, Oukhellou, 30, Timlin, 36, Nwanze, 30, Thompson, 33, and Zapico, 25, will be split into two separate trials.