Celebrity chef Maggie Beer has blasted online scammers using her identity to swindle Aussies out of their hard earned cash.
The well-known author is the latest celebrity to fall victim to online fraudsters.
This time, the scammers peddled vials of “cannabis oil” in her name.
Ms Beer, 75, said she felt violated.
“People trust me and therefore they see the name and … it takes something away from me every time,” she said.
One of the phony cannabis oil endorsements seen by A Current Affair purport to quote Ms Beer as saying, “I can finally accompany my family to the park”.
Another scam claimed that Ms Beer “(I) no longer need a wheelchair,”.
The chef says this claim disturbed her.
“I think at my age I have more energy than a lot of people a lot younger, and for me to be in a wheelchair would be beyond my ken.”
Fans even visited Ms Beer’s store and restaurant in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, asking to buy the oil.
Melbourne pensioner Jeremy Nyhouse, 79, also fell victim to a similar scam that used Olivia Newton-John’s name.
Mr Nyhouse said he lost $500 to the scammers, although he thought he was paying just $75.
“I’d love to think I’m a fairly businesslike, careful person,” Mr Nyhouse said.
“Our finances are limited and $500 is a lot of money.”
The Therapeutic Goods Administration said medical cannabis products can only ever be prescribed by a doctor.
“Products purchased over the internet may be counterfeit and contain undisclosed ingredients or potentially harmful ingredients or contaminants, and may not meet the same standards of quality, safety and efficacy as those approved by the TGA for supply in Australia,” a TGA spokesperson said.
This article originally appeared on Over60.