Deceitful Debbie promises Fijians the world

Bray Boland February 20, 2024
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The account is using fake images to target people in Fiji and PNG. Image by Facebook

WHAT WAS CLAIMED

A cryptocurrency trader has posted images of bank statements and transfers featuring her clients’ huge returns.

OUR VERDICT

False. The bank statements and transfers are fake or doctored.

A self-described seasoned financial trader from northern Fiji has posed for an image with the Austrian and European flags behind her.

That's because the woman in the image is not crypto trader Debbie Werran, as is claimed. The woman pictured is Austrian politician Margarete Schramböck.

Debbie Werran (archived here) is one of more than 100 supposed financial traders using deception and fake images to target Facebook users across the Pacific Islands. 

AAP FactCheck has analysed dozens of these accounts as part of a special investigation.

Werran fake 1
The profile features several transfer notifications that the bank says are fake. (Facebook)

Werran, who claims to be from Labasa, Fiji, and an alumnus of the University of San Diego, specifically targets people from Fiji and Papua New Guinea with the promise of huge returns on their investment.

The profile image supposedly of Werran can be traced to a 2021 Instagram post from the former Austrian minister, Schramböck.

It is not the only account to attempt to profit off Schramböck's image and name.

Remarkably, dozens of accounts belonging to "online traders" feature her name and image.

There is no suggestion Schramböck is connected to any of the accounts.

The image taken for Warren's profile picture is from this 2021 post.

There are also dozens of accounts belonging to so-called traders using the name Debbie Werran or Warren - many of which also use the image of the Austrian politician, examples here, here, here and here.

Werran has also posted various images of bank statements and transfer notifications as proof she is earning vast sums of money for her clients.

Among the images are statements from ANZ Bank (here and here),  M-PAiSA (here and here) and Bank South Pacific (BSP) (here and here).

Even to the untrained eye, many of the statements do not appear genuine.

In this example, supposedly of an ANZ account, the "payment from" information is in a different size and font from the rest of the information.

Werran fake
ANZ told AAP FactCheck the bank statements are fake. (Facebook)

ANZ, BSP and M-PAiSA confirmed the various images featured on Werran's page were fake.

In a post encouraging clients to invest, Werran also includes a photo of a cheque presentation.

But this has nothing to do with trading. Instead, it depicts the presentation of prize money to a rugby union team by the Fijian government. 

Additionally, the woman featured in the profile image is not Werran or any crypto trader. It is Austrian politician Margarete Schramböck.

False — The claim is inaccurate.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sources

  1. Margarete Schramböck.

    https://www.parlament.gv.at/person/2978
  2. here

    http://archive.today/xgYXI
  3. Labasa

    https://www.fiji.travel/places-to-go/savusavu-and-surrounds
  4. University of San Diego

    https://www.sandiego.edu/
  5. profile image

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09091159/Werran1.png
  6. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15122251/Debbie1.png
  7. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15122438/Debbie2.png
  8. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15122607/Debbie3.png
  9. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/15122735/Debbie4.png
  10. ANZ Bank

    https://www.anz.com.au/personal/
  11. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09093411/Werran5.png
  12. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09094223/Werran6.png
  13. M-PAiSA

    https://www.vodafone.com.fj/personal/products-services/m-paisa/m-paisa-imt
  14. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09091548/Werran2.png
  15. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09094450/Werran7.png
  16. Bank South Pacific

    https://www.bsp.com.pg/
  17. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09094629/Werran8.png
  18. here

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09094809/Werran9.png
  19. this example

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09093411/Werran5.png
  20. a cheque presentation

    https://www-media.aap.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/09092105/Werran4.png
  21. a rugby union team

    https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/rugby/government-delivers-promise-to-fijiana/
  22. International Fact-Checking Network

    https://www.poynter.org/ifcn/

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Every AAP FactCheck article is the result of a meticulous process involving numerous experienced journalists and producers. Our articles are thoroughly researched, carefully crafted and rigorously scrutinised to ensure the highest standard of accuracy and objectivity in every piece.

AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network