By Olivia Griffin

Online replies from a Welsh Conservative politician highlight growing concerns over scams and public figures’ social media use.

A Welsh Conservative Senedd Candidate and previous Member of the Senedd has replied to several posts on X appearing to promote a common social media scam involving fake “Tesla phone” giveaways linked to tech billionaire Elon Musk.

Screenshots shared online show Janet Finch-Saunders responding to posts encouraging users to reply ‘YES’ or react in order to receive the device. No such ‘Tesla phone’ product currently exists, and similar posts are widely associated with scams circulating on social media.

Finch-Saunders, who has represented the North Wales constituency of Aberconwy in the Senedd since 2011, replied ‘YES’ to one such post and responded with a thumbs-up emoji to another similar message. In a separate reply to a parody account referencing Musk, she also answered ‘Yes’ when asked whether the billionaire entrepreneur was “an American hero”.

The accounts involved appear to be commentary or parody profiles rather than official accounts connected to Musk. Posts promoting a supposed Tesla phone giveaway are commonly used as engagement-bait scams, designed to encourage users to interact with content before directing them to fraudulent websites.

Online scams referencing well-known public figures have become increasingly common across platforms including X and Facebook. Fraudsters frequently use the names and images of high-profile figures to promote fake product launches or giveaways, encouraging users to like, comment or share posts before directing them to external websites requesting personal information or payment details.

Cybersecurity organisations have repeatedly warned about the prevalence of such schemes, which rely on the credibility of widely recognised figures to attract engagement and build trust among users.

The incident comes amid wider scrutiny of how politicians use social media and the responsibilities attached to online activity. Under the Senedd’s Code of Conduct, Members must not behave in a way likely to bring the institution or its Members into disrepute. Guidance accompanying the Code makes clear that the rules apply both inside and outside the Senedd, including activity on social media.

The Code states that Members must “act in a manner which maintains public trust and confidence in the integrity of the Senedd and its Members”.

Recent reporting has also highlighted what standards officials described as a potential gap in the rules governing social media posts made in the name of Senedd Members. An investigation by the Senedd’s Standards Commissioner previously examined complaints about posts published in the name of a Member but written by a staff member managing their account.

Although the investigation did not find a breach of the Code, the Commissioner concluded that the rules did not explicitly state that Members were responsible for posts made on their behalf.

Following the investigation, the Senedd’s Standards Committee recommended clarifying the Code so that Members remain accountable for social media posts published under their name, even if they are written or posted by staff. The committee noted that when comments are shared in the name of an elected representative, the authority of that position can lend additional weight to the message.

As the report stated, “the status of a Member of the Senedd may lend credibility to comments posted online”. The committee also warned that posts made by public office holders can have wider consequences, particularly when they refer to individuals, organisations or commercial entities.

Social media has become an increasingly important platform for political communication, allowing politicians to engage directly with constituents and participate in public debate. At the same time, the speed and informality of online interaction can expose public figures to misinformation, parody accounts and scam content.

Finch-Saunders previously served as a councillor on Conwy County Borough Council before entering the Senedd and sat in the last Senedd session as part of the Welsh Conservative group.

Finch-Saunders has been contacted for comment but had not responded at the time of writing.