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Ore Oduba breaks down in tears as ‘ashamed and embarrassed’ presenter admits he’s been scammed in elaborate online hoax

BBG News

On Sunday night, television presenter Ore Oduba became tearful as he shared that he had fallen victim to a complex internet fraud.

Posting a six-minute video on Instagram, Oduba, aged 39, found it hard to hide his feelings as he confessed to being tricked by scammers who took advantage of his enthusiasm for American motivational speaker Mel Robbins and her collection of self-help books, including The 5 Second Rule (also known as The Let Them Theory).

During a past episode on the ITV program Loose Women, the speaker openly endorsed Robbins, stating that her philosophies significantly impacted his personal journey.

As a loyal follower, I’d like to share that, similar to my past role in helping viewers dodge insurance scams through the BBC documentary series Claimed and Shamed, I recently received contact from an individual alleging to be Robbins, following my stint on a daytime panel discussion.

He shared the interview he found, tagged the Mel Robbins podcast, the Let Me theory, Mel herself, and everyone who might be interested. After that, his agent sent him an email that had been forwarded from the Mel Robbins podcast team.

‘I could have cried – they knew who I was! I got an email from the Mel Robbins podcast team.’ 

In my response, I shared with Mel every transformative moment she’s brought into my life. I couldn’t help but express, as the closing line in my message, that if you understand this, it reveals the essence of who I am. A heartfelt thank you for reaching out to me.

Feeling both ashamed and humiliated about the scam, a tearful Oduba reminisced about being asked to appear on the Robbins’ popular podcast, which now ranks among the top 15 podcasts in the U.S., boasting over 20 million subscribers.

He remarked, “Upon re-reading this, I can recall precisely how it affected me then. In my response, I told her, ‘Mel, I nearly cried. Is this genuine? It seems like AI might be aiding you in responding to so many fans.’

In response, Mel replied, “Indeed, it’s me – Mel Robbins. This news left me utterly overwhelmed, causing a flood of emotions as I wept on an Avanti West Coast train traveling from Birmingham to London, with the realization that my entire life was potentially on the brink of transformation.

He mentioned, ‘Interestingly, I once hosted a program focused on exposing scams. Frankly, I believe I’ve seen more than enough Watchdog episodes to last a lifetime – but that doesn’t stop me from finding myself right in the thick of it.’

‘I never thought I’d be the person that would be scammed.’ 

Reflecting on my recent interaction, I swiftly recognized that the message originated from a Gmail address, which served as an instant warning sign. To my dismay, the recipient’s name was also misspelled, Mel’s name to be precise.

Upon reaching out to the Robbins PR team through their official site, the host’s apprehensions were validated as he was informed that emails originating from a Gmail address would likely be classified as fraudulent.

On Sunday, he posted on Instagram with this caption: “Feeling humiliated, feeling ashamed, and simply being human. I never thought it could happen to me, but this experience shows that anyone can fall victim to a scam.

I’m quite concerned about my susceptibility, particularly when AI is involved. The allure was so authentic, it’s downright chilling.

He openly acknowledged that Mel Robbins’ book and podcast significantly assisted him during a challenging time in his life.

In essence, what I’m trying to convey is that I chose not to see certain truths because I desperately wanted them to be true for me, and as a result, I found myself in a precarious situation. It’s fascinating how this pattern tends to repeat itself in our personal relationships as well.

‘Listen to your gut, it’s most likely telling you the truth. And don’t get scammed, it’s no fun. 

I’m still deeply inspired and appreciative towards Mel Robbins, who promptly responded. I consider myself fortunate – the situation could have unfolded quite differently and I might not have received their help in time.

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2025-07-20 13:34

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