Archive July 2, 2025

‘I was conned out of hundreds by ‘Jennifer Aniston’ – she told me she loved me’

A fraudster pretending to be Friends star, Jennifer Aniston, reportedly scammed a man out of £200 after claiming she desperately needed the cash for ‘ Apple subscriptions ‘

A heartbroken Friends fan claims he was cruelly scammed out of £200 by a fraudster pretending to be Jennifer Aniston(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

A heartbroken Friends fan claims he was cruelly scammed out of £200 by a fraudster pretending to be Jennifer Aniston. Paul Davies from Southampton, says he thought he was chatting to the Rachel Green legend on social media before ‘Jennifer’ asked to him to hand over the cash so she could pay for her “Apple subscriptions”.

Paul says he was targeted by a flurry of AI scammers pretending to be Hollywood stars in a worrying new wave of deepfake fraud. The Brit, 43, revealed how he was swamped by swathes of very convincing clips – he thought were from celebrities – including Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. However, when ‘ Jen ‘ sent him her driving licence as proof of her identity, he says he fell for it, not least because she told him she ‘ loved him’.

Paul Davies
Paul Davies from Southampton, says he thought he was chatting to the Rachel Green legend on social media(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

Speaking to The Sun, he said: “I’ve had fake videos from Jennifer Aniston saying she loves me and asking for £200. I believed it – and I paid.”

The savage scam saw him send £200 worth of non-refundable Apple gift cards to the alleged American sweetheart as Paul admitted: “I got bitten”. Once bitten, twice shy. “

During their exchange on social media, ‘ Jennifer ‘ sent a slew of sweet messages to Paul while also warning him not to contact Facebook because” you don’t want problems”.

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Jennifer Aniston deepfake
‘Jennifer’ told Paul she loved him(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

The cruel con is sadly part of a worrying wave of deepfake, AI generated videos, which often forge someone’s face, voice or entire likeness.

Paul claims he’s been hounded by droves of deepfake videos, often promising he’s won a huge prize, endorsed by a fake celebrity.

One video even showed a fake Zuckerberg declaring:” This is not a scam – believe me “while flashing a phoney ID.

” They make it look so real, “Paul said”. It’s been going on for five months. I anticipated that someone would face punishment for this, but they seem to be having a good laugh and getting away with it.

Jennifer Aniston deepfake
They even had a phoney driving licence(Image: Daily Echo/Solent News)

Paul says he’s sharing his story to protect others, despite acknowledging that the scam has had a significant impact on his mental health.

It comes after another unsuspecting Facebook user fell foul of a scammer pretending to be Brad Pitt.

Despite actually residing in Nigeria and never standing in front of the camera, they conned a French woman out of nearly $700,000 by pretending to be the Fight Club star.

After receiving AI-generated selfies and love messages, interior designer Anne, 53, was tricked into funding a fake cancer treatment for the so-called “star.”

Anne lost her marriage, health, and fortune in the sham romance, which lasted for more than a year.

Eventually, a crack team discovered the scammer’s identity, his Nigerian residence, and, regrettably, 34 other victims.

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* For more information and advice about deepfakes, please contact Police UK.

READ MORE: Argos shoppers can get a free 40-inch Hisense TV by doing one thing

Branthwaite signs new five-year Everton contract

Images courtesy of Getty

Jarrad Branthwaite, a defender for Everton, has agreed to a new five-year contract.

The 23-year-old joined the Toffees from Carlisle United in January 2020 and was the subject of two Manchester United bid rejections last summer.

This summer, he attracted interest from a number of clubs, including Tottenham and Chelsea.

However, Everton view him as a crucial component of the club’s plans as Hill Dickinson Stadium enters a new era.

Branthwaite declared, “I’m over the moon.” It’s been a topic of conversation since the season’s conclusion, and I’m very excited to have it signed now.

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FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals: Qualified teams and full schedule

As the tournament moves into the second round of its knockout matches, eight teams from three different continents are aiming to win the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 trophy.

The quarterfinal lineup for the tournament was made up of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund, who were the last two teams to finish the position after an extra-time thriller, two significant upsets, three close encounters, and two thumping victories.

Four European giants square off against one another in the final eighteen hours, giving a Middle Eastern club the chance to capitalize on their own deserved success, and giving two Brazilian teams the chance to advance.

The Club World Cup quarterfinal lineup is shown in this image:

First quarterfinal: Al Hilal vs. Fluminense

When: Friday, July 4 at 3pm (19: 00 GMT)
Where: Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida

At the 65, 000-capacity venue in Florida, an old one of Brazil’s oldest football clubs will be playing with a lot of emotion and color and noise when Al Hilal, one of Saudi Arabia’s football giants, square off.

In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament, Al Hilal will ride on the high of defeating Manchester City, who are currently defending champions, 4-3 in an extra-time thriller on Tuesday.

With a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan, their Brazilian rivals also had success, defeating Italian giants and UEFA Champions League finalists.

Fans of the two underdogs will not be without color and noise when they show up at Camping World Stadium on Friday.

Palmeiras vs. Chelsea: second quarterfinal

When: Friday, July 4 at 9pm (01: 00 GMT, July 5)
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In Friday’s second quarterfinal in Philadelphia, Palmeiras, the second Brazilian club to advance, will face Chelsea, the previous champion of the English language.

One of the strongest defensive lines in the tournament, Palmeiras defeated Botafogo in a heated match in the round of 16 to finish second in the final season of Serie A, the top division of Brazilian club football.

Their rivals, who won the 2021 Club World Cup, will look to bounce back from a disappointing home season and advance to the business division to claim a trophy.

The final game will take place at Lincoln Field Stadium, which has a capacity of 69 000.

The winner will face the Al Hilal vs. Fluminense team in the opening semifinal.

Map of the 11 host cities for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup [Al Jazeera]

PSG vs. Bayern Munich in the third quarterfinal

When: Saturday, July 5 at 12pm (16: 00 GMT)
Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Two of the three remaining competition titles will likely face off in the biggest clash of the quarterfinals.

German giants Bayern’s victory will give them a chance to finish the quartet of sensational seasons by consolidating European champion PSG’s pedigree as one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Bayern have 16 goals in their four games so far, but their attack will face off against the French champions at the 75, 000-capacity stadium in Georgia.

Real Madrid vs. Borussia Dortmund in the fourth quarterfinal

When: Saturday, July 5 at 4pm (20: 00 GMT)
Where: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

The German team, which consistently ranks among the best in Europe, will face off against the undisputed kings of the Club World Cup.

Kylian Mbappe, a star forward, has been welcomed back by Real and will hope he can match his best form against a strong Dortmund side in a final-eight match.

The organisers will face off against one of the most popular clubs in the world in a match at the tournament’s largest stadium, which will also serve as the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

In the second semifinale, the winner of this match will face the PSG-Bayern winner.

Bodies Of Two Children Recovered From Drain After Torrential Rain In Niger

A nine-year-old girl and an unidentified boy were pronounced dead on Monday afternoon in Minna, the capital of Niger State, after they were swept away by floodwaters.

Following hours of persistent rain that flooded the Tunga community, overflowed drainage systems, submerged roads, and halted movement in the area.

The girl, who is said to be the only of three siblings, was taken to the Tunga Market, which is located about two kilometers from her home, to purchase ingredients for soup, according to Channels Television.

Her 11-year-old brother accompanied her.

The children set out under an umbrella during a rain delay despite the early indications of the weather’s deterioration.

Read more about Tinubu’s request to activate the emergency response center as the death toll rises to 150.

According to eyewitnesses, the rain quickly intensified, creating flash floods that filled the streets and flooded the open drainages.

When the girl allegedly slipped into one of Julius Berger’s major drainage channels during the Ibrahim Babangida military administration after returning from the market, the children were reportedly hit by the deluge.

At the edge of the channel, she discovered her slippers and nylon shopping bag.

Residents claim that her brother tried to sound the alarm and call for help as he watched his sister being swept away, but bystanders were unable to assist due to the floodwaters’ strength and height.

The boy returned home to alert their parents.

More than five kilometers from the girl’s fall site, the girl’s father was contacted to find a corpse at a drainage outlet along Mandela Road.

Surprisingly, he discovered the body of both his daughter’s and another child’s body, both of which are thought to have perished in the same flood.

Hussaini Ibrahim, the agency’s public relations representative, stated that the incident was unrelated to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and that it was unaware of the tragedy.

He told Channels Television, “The agency is unaware of the disaster, but my people will meet with the girl’s parents at home in Tunga tomorrow.”

The most recent incident underscores the need for improved drainage and public safety awareness during the rainy season in the Niger State.

Kanye West banned from entering Australia over song with shocking two-word title

Kanye West’s visa was revoked because of his promotion of hateful content and antisemitism, according to the Australian Immigration Minister, underscoring the country’s strong opposition to bigotry.

Kanye West banned from entering Australia over song with shocking two-word title(Image: PATRICK KOVARIK/AFP via Getty Images)

Australia has blocked rapper Kanye West from entering the country following the release of his controversial song Heil Hitler, Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed.

After being investigated for his offensive remarks related to the song, Burke explained on ABC’s Afternoon Briefing that West, known as Ye, had his valid visa suspended. He admitted that “my officials looked at him again after he released that song,” according to Burke.

Despite West having family ties in Australia, the visa he held wasn’t for concert purposes but a lower-level category. “Officials still looked at the law and said if you’re going to have a song and promote that sort of Nazism, we don’t need that in Australia,” the minister added.

Hillel Fuld, an Israeli-American tech advocate whose visa was reportedly voided as a result of Islamophobic statements, was the subject of Burke’s comments during a discussion.

Kanye West in a black jacket and trousers, with gloves, on stage in 2024.
Kanye has been banned from entering Australia(Image: Getty Images)

The Minister stated that Fuld’s application was “never actually received,” but that he would not allow someone to go on a speaking tour. I don’t want someone who shares my opinion of Islamophobia because they are requesting public speeches on the visa.

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He emphasized the importance of public advocates receiving stricter standards, but he also emphasized that West’s visa was canceled because it wasn’t related to advocacy. West’s ability to travel to Australia became the subject of rumors in 2023, in part due to his marriage to Australian Bianca Censori.

Prior to Burke’s assassination and prior to Heil Hitler’s release earlier this year, government official Jason Clare had previously suggested that West’s history of antisemitic remarks would justify visa refusal.

His girlfriend Bianca Censori is Australian
His girlfriend Bianca Censori is Australian(Image: Instagram/ye)

Burke explained that visa applications are reviewed based on current law, noting a permanent ban on the West. Even for the lowest level of visa, when my officials looked at it, they cancelled that after the song was released, he said, “I’m not taking away the way the act operates.”

“We already have enough issues in this country,” according to the statement.

The track “Heil Hitler” from the Grammy-winning hip-hop artist’s new album, WW3, comes with problematic lyrics. The rapper, who calls himself a “villain” and openly chants “Heil Hitler,” is a reflection of Kanye’s recent attitude toward Nazis.

Kanye has been banned for his song Heil Hitler
Kanye has been banned for his song Heil Hitler(Image: Billboard via Getty Images)

In “Heil Hitler,” West makes a series of debatable claims and disses Drake. He raps, “n***as be actin like f****ts so much, I think they might be Drake… they don’t understand the things I say on Twitter… all my n****s Nazis n***a Heil Hitler…”

The Runaway singer revealed in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post that he has trouble performing his new song live. He continued, “I’m being told that performing Hell Hitler is problematic.” At all of my shows, I perform Heil Hitler.

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Sofia Richie’s gingham co-ord and matching £25 headscarf nail summer’s ‘picnic-core’ trend

We know where to buy the matching headscarf and gingham co-ord, and Sofia Richie once more is leading the summer’s new micro trend.

Sofia wore the gingham co-ord and headscarf on holiday(Image: Sofia Richie Grainge/Instagram)

Although there have been numerous major trends, this summer has already been heavily embracing micro trends, from tomato girl summer to Euro-style. However, picnic-core, which essentially focuses on embracing a traditional picnic vibe, is the most recent to appear on our social media feeds.

Think Sofia Richie, a celeb who is rocking the look, thinks of basket bags, floral arrangements, and of course, a lot of gingham. It’s safe to say that the model’s followers were fans of the look when she unveiled her gingham co-ord, complete with matching headscarf, on Instagram recently while on a trip to France.

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One person tagged a celeb-style spotting account and remarked, “Hi, can you ID her gingham set and matching scarf,” while another responded, “Oh my goooooodness.” Hunza appears, but we’re not sure.

Sofia Richie Grainge gingham headscarf
Sofia wore the headscarf on repeat whilst on holiday(Image: Sofia Richie Grainge/Instagram)

The eagle-eyed fan was correct, because Hunza G, known for its celeb-loved crinkle swimsuits, is the only company that produces Sofia’s entire set. The model finished off with the appropriately named Sofia Gingham Seersucker Headscarf (£25) while sporting the Gingham Seersucker Shirt (£195) and the matching Gingham Seersucker Shorts (£125).

With its Revere Collar Resort Shirt (£32) and Pull on Shorts (£22), ASOS also has a similar co-ord if you’re looking for something a little less expensive. The shirt has short sleeves rather than the traditional long sleeves of Sofias. The Sui Ava Gingham Headband Scarf, available in either beige and white or blue and white colors, can also be purchased for £11.

Sofia Richie Grainge gingham co-ord
Her Hunza G gingham co-ord was a hit with fans(Image: Sofia Richie Grainge/Instagram)

However, Sofia’s headwear costs only £25, which is the ideal way to snooze a little bit of the star’s style without breaking the bank. Gingham print is timeless and easy to style, so you can nail the trend while still having fun with it while still having something to wear over and over again. This is because the trend is only temporary.

Sofia’s gingham set had plenty of stretch and quick drying, making it the ideal holiday gift. Additionally, it’s breathable and lightweight, keeping you cool and comfortable while wearing it.

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Her headscarf is made of the same quick-drying material, which is ideal for removing sweat and humidity from your hair and preventing sunburn on your scalp. You can choose the one that best suits your style because it also comes in a number of other colors and prints.