Famous Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, who co-founded the critically acclaimed animation studio- Studio Ghibli, has unintentionally taken on the role of spokesperson for a cryptocurrency phishing scheme in Japan. False information is being disseminated by fake news websites that impersonate respectable publications like the Yomiuri Shimbun.
Some of the articles even suggest that the Bank of Japan has stepped in to address the situation. The false information claims that Miyazaki is endorsing cryptocurrency investments. Then, these pieces are shared on the well-known news aggregator “Goo,” giving the impression that Miyazaki talked about investing in cryptocurrencies and directing readers to a particular website on multiple occasions.
They are promoting a fake quote from Miyazaki using his name and popularity to promote their fake news all over Japan. This has resulted in a huge controversy as Miyazaki is one of the most reputed and famous individuals in the world of the anime industry.
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Hayao Miyazaki’s Fabricated Quote Circling the Internet
According to a report by the Japanese news outlet Bengo4 on December 29, 2023, Miyazaki’s image was being used fraudulently to promote cryptocurrency investments without his consent. A portion of an article claimed to have been written by Miyazaki that was making the rounds on the internet included a fake quote urging people to invest a certain amount and endorsing a platform called TradeGPT 3.6 Force. The quote read:
“Imagine how much balance you will have in one month. If you invest at least ¥39,750, you will have 600,000, or even 700,000 after 4 weeks. However, TradeGPT 3.6 Force All you have to do is register on the platform, charge your balance and press a button.”
These fake reports, which have been making the rounds on the well-known Japanese news aggregator website “Good News,” proclaim that Miyazaki is endorsing his cryptocurrency investment strategies and urging people to make investments. The articles include direct registration links for these dubious “cryptocurrencies,” raising concerns about a sophisticated phishing scheme designed to defraud people of their money.
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Yomiuri Shimbun Responds To Fake Cryptocurrency Scam
Despite having no real connections to the cryptocurrency space and no desire to be associated with it, Yomiuri and Miyazaki himself appear to have unluckily become entangled in this scam. In a prompt response, Yomiuri Shimbun said that the phony website is unrelated to their business.
The public relations department of the group has demanded that these fraudulent articles be taken down and filed a complaint of copyright infringement to the social media operating company. Yomiuri has also put a notice on their homepage advising users not to visit these websites.
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The sad news is released as Miyazaki’s most recent picture, The Boy and the Heron, smashes through yet another box office record, taking in $130 million globally and winning a Golden Globe award. Miyazaki himself has not commented on investing in cryptocurrencies and seems to be an innocent bystander in this scam to deceive his Japanese fans and supporters.
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