What is the Xabi Alonso 'plane ticket scam' on Thai social media?

Roque Oller SCAM Fraudsters impersonating Alonso are asking social-media users for money ALONSO AIRFARE

[{"selector":"#anim-2ff8b9b1-095c-4115-96f2-d9c3d65f5796","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b40bfc77-7df4-4772-a423-9f268d340c09 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(4.070907765044526%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] One of Europe’s most sought-after coaches, Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso has become the subject of a viral internet scam in Thailand.

[{"selector":"#anim-15ec4903-bcd7-4500-beac-a7caf3df650d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Thai con-artists have created an Instagram profile purporting to belong to Alonso, on which he followers are asked to donate to his travel costs.

[{"selector":"#anim-1d19ef8d-e747-4785-84ff-1e0b66e7eb6d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 195.30265%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0ac360b7-fbaf-4427-8cef-3fc2c98dfbcb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.7352941176470589)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"forwards"}] “Hi, I’m Xabi Alonso,” a message on the account reads. “I’m going to take over as Liverpool coach, but I need money for my plane fare [to the UK].”

[{"selector":"#anim-db8fdc84-5020-4564-b6c2-e23699e3032c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-97469e99-34d7-469a-85c9-c6ca91e88b65 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(22.749565628888558%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] The message, which asks people to donate 300 baht (around $8.50), has led Thai law enforcement to warn Instagram users not to be fooled.

[{"selector":"#anim-8398f107-1234-4218-9111-be6c6030df65","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In a Facebook post, Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau told soccer fans not to transfer money to the scammers or click on any links they send.

[{"selector":"#anim-bcbe6c3d-d076-46ba-9b1b-eeb5adce42cd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09b5ad40-aae7-4614-a650-b1e080a88add [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-26.221590764804446%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":8000,"fill":"both"}] Although the fake Xabi Alonso account has a ‘verified’ tick, this is meaningless as such status can be bought for a small fee.

[{"selector":"#anim-30c53971-82f0-47d4-bbc5-b7f321d3886f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It’s no coincidence that Premier League club Liverpool have been chosen as the focus of this online scam: the Reds have a huge fanbase in Thailand.

[{"selector":"#anim-cda0b2f3-c375-4248-bf8f-938c1232ff63","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Following Jürgen Klopp’s announcement that he is to step down as Liverpool boss this summer, Alonso has been tipped to replace the German.

[{"selector":"#anim-6749d423-0c07-4eb0-b6cb-4d47f176fb76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 170.91239%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Alonso is not the first soccer star to be targeted by fraudsters: for example, Kylian Mbappé’s image was used in ads for a crypto scam.

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