Scott Timlin, a star of Geordie Shore, and five other reality show celebrities have been charged with illegally promoting an unauthorised foreign exchange betting site.
Lauren Goodger and Yazmin Oukhellou, who featured in The Only Way is Essex, as well as some Love Island contestants are also being prosecuted by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The celebrities are alleged to have urged their 4.5 million followers to look at an Instagram account that provided advice on buying and selling contracts-for-difference linked to currencies. It is the first time that the regulator has prosecuted financial influencers, or “finfluencers”. The charges carry a penalty of unlimited fines and up to two years in jail.
Also accused is Emmanuel Nwanze, 30, who has been charged with running an unauthorised
