The Hairy Bikers crew has had to issue a warning to fans after disgusting fraudsters attempted to profit off Dave Myers’ death.
The popular television actor died at the age of 66, two years after being diagnosed with cancer.
Si King, Myers’ best friend, confirmed the news last month, saying he will miss him ‘every day’ and paying homage to ‘the closeness and companionship we enjoyed over half a lifetime’.
As fans expressed their grief, Myers’ wife Liliana sent a moving tribute and thanked them for their support. Sick fraudsters are now attempting to profit from the unfortunate news.
In a statement shared on Facebook, the Hairy Bikers team wrote: ‘Everyone at the Hairy Bikers Management Team is deeply saddened with the passing of Dave Myers.
‘He will be deeply missed by all of us. However, we now urgently need your help!’
They shared an attachment showing a screenshot of a ‘fake page’ pretending to be King asking for donations.
It said: ‘Many of you have been emailing us pointing out that fake profiles are appearing on Facebook and Instagram, the latest one is of Si King.
”Our Team has been desperately trying to get Meta, the owners of Facebook and Instagram to remove these fake profiles for the past 2 weeks without success.
‘Below is a screenshot of a fake page. You will notice that it doesn’t have a ‘Blue Tick’ next to the name ‘Si King’. There are instances where a ‘post’ has a link to a Bitcoin scam asking for donations to a cancer charity in the name of Dave Myers. Rest assured, this is not genuine in any shape or form.
The post went on: ‘How you can help us, firstly, if you have fallen for the fake profile and currently 1000 have, please unfollow this profile page as your information can be sold on. Secondly, please report the fake profile to Facebook.’
It added: ‘To add to the confusion, the people behind the scam are copying posts that we are genuinely uploading to our own page. If you all join in and report the fake, Facebook may wake up when they see some 600,000 reports in their inbox. #MarkZuckerberg take note!
‘We gratefully appreciate your help and kindness. Help us drop this. It’s not in the name of the Hairy Bikers. Shocking Meta’s lack of action.’
Fans were shocked and outrage by the fake accounts, with follower Marilyn commenting: ‘This is horrendous, so so sorry to think this is happening. I’ve not seen anything, but will action if needed. Disgraceful action by Meta.’
‘This is just so awful that this is happening,’ Jayne added.
‘Like Simon doesn’t have enough to worry about…. makes me so angry. Reported,’ David said.
This follows Myers’ final television appearance, which left fans sad.
The last episode aired a few days ago, when the best buddies ended up The Hairy Bikers Go West with heartbreaking sequences.
After filming the play in Devon and Dorset while Myers was getting chemotherapy, the cast expressed gratitude for their accomplishments.
‘I’ve had chemotherapy all the time I’ve been filming, and it hasn’t been easy but I got there and it’s a wonderful feeling,’ Myers told the camera.
Welling up on camera, Si then shared: ‘We’ve done it, but more importantly he’s done it.
‘He’s my mate but I love him like family, like a brother, and I’m lost for words. It’s quite remarkable what he’s done.’
The episode then wrapped up after Myers said: ‘Who knows what the future holds but for the moment I’m living in the present, and it’s pretty fine I’ll tell you.’
The Hairy Bikers Go West is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Source My Celebrity Life.