There has been a "surge" of fake ads depicting the outgoing Taoiseach in recent weeks, a technology journalist has said.

On first glance, these ads look like they are coming for letgitimate news sources, however they are part of a crypto-currency scam.

On The Hard Shoulder, The Irish Independent's technology editor Adrian Weckler said social media platforms are seeing a "surge" in these type of ads.

"They're not just [depicting] politicians, but celebrities and broadcasters as well," Mr Weckler said.

"They typically say things like, 'I had to tell the truth', 'This is the reason I resigned', or some sensational secret like that.

"And [the ads] will say The Irish Independent, The Irish Times, RTÉ or Newstalk and when you click through, it normally takes you through to a crypto-trading site which gets you to sign up and give money."

Mr Weckler said it is "unusual" that these ads are coming from verified 'blue tick' accounts on X.

"These accounts that have paid a minimum of €11 per month to X, to Elon Musk to run these scam ads," he said.

"So Elon Musk is making money twice - he is making money once from the €11 per month from these scammers and then he’s also collecting when they book an ad."

A person holding a phone open on the X app, Alamy

Mr Weckler said more regulation is needed to tackle these ads.

"We’re supposed to be in a new era of regulation, you hear it non-stop from Irish politicians," he said.

"There is effectively no regulation against this - if you look at the programme for Government over the last 24 hours you’ll see there is an ambition to raise the idea at a European level of legislation that might tackle these scam ads.

"If you see these scam ads, you’re supposed to - the regulators say - get on to the platforms themselves and ask them to take them down."

Legal action

In 2022, Irish broadcaster Miriam O'Callaghan received an apology from Facebook Ireland after fake ads appeared on the platform using her image.

"Miriam O’Callaghan was forced to go all the way to the High Court [over fake ads]," Mr Wekler said.

"That gives you an idea of how difficult it is to take these things down."

You can listen back below:

Feature image: Simon Harris, Image: Sasko Lazarov / © RollingNews.ie