EXCLUSIVE: EastEnders actress Letitia Dean hits out at online scammers for falsely using her slimmed downed image to promote weight loss pills

EastEnders star Letitia Dean has approached online scammers for using her profile to sell slimming pills.

Albert Square stalwart, 55, has been praised by fans for her body transformation in recent years after reportedly losing four dress sizes.

But now fraudsters are taking advantage of the interest in her appearance by falsely claiming that she is the face of a slimming product, even attributing fake quotes from the actress that support these statements.

A source close to Letitia, who plays Sharon Watts, told MailOnline: ‘It is complete nonsense for B+ Weight Management or any other slimming brand to claim that Letitia has given permission for her image to be used.

‘This advert and product have absolutely no relevance to Letitia and she urges potential customers to do their research before purchasing any weight loss products, especially those that claim to use celebrity endorsements.’

The Albert Square stalwart has been praised by fans in recent years for her body transformation, which has seen her shift several pounds in weight – reportedly four dress sizes (pictured May 2021)

But now fraudsters are exploiting the interest surrounding her appearance by falsely claiming she is the face of a weight loss product, attributing false quotes from the actress she is endorsing (photo September 2023)

The adverts for B+ Weight Management’s slimming pills are pushed onto Facebook and when interested parties click on a link they are taken to a fake interview with Letitia in which she claims the pills made her ‘lose five stone in two weeks’.

It also claims Letitia had to lose weight or undergo surgery, plus wild claims her BBC bosses were ‘furious’ about her new body shape.

The scammers even went so far as to fabricate a fake interview Letitia had with ITV’s Good Morning Britain, despite the fact that the soap star rarely speaks in public.

Her EastEnders co-star Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, warned fans during an Instagram live that Letitia’s involvement with the company was untrue, and dismissed claims that her own weight loss was down to the pills.

Fellow EastEnders actor Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale) and Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden have also been targeted by scammers who claim the pair endorse weight loss supplements.

Susanna Reid joined Martin Lewis in April to speak out about scammers using her image to flog Keto pills, as she urged viewers to ignore the fake ads.

She said live on air: ‘People I think could have seen through the scam by contacting me and saying, “I’m desperate to lose weight, do your Keto pills work?” I do not endorse, sell, make, manufacture or support weight loss pills.”

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and B+ Weight Management for comment.

A Facebook ad promoting Letitia’s weight loss by sharing two comparison photos of the soap star is fake, with sources close to the BBC actress confirming it is ‘nonsense’.

Letitia, who plays Sharon in the long-running soap, has lost significant weight in recent years, with viewers noticing her body transformation

Letitia is currently embroiled in a huge storyline with on-screen lover Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), who staged a fake kidnapping of their son Albie (pictured in 2020)

Susanna Reid joined Martin Lewis in April to speak out about scammers using her image to flog Keto pills, as she urged viewers to ignore the fake ads (Photo November 2023)

Letitia is currently embroiled in a huge storyline with on-screen lover Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), who has staged a fake kidnapping of their son Albie.

The actress is one of the original cast members who still works on EastEnders, having joined the BBC One soap at the age of 17.

She was introduced as the adopted daughter of Den and Angie Watts and later became the landlady of the Queen Vic pub.

Sharon’s on-off romance with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) is a long-running storyline, and the characters currently run a boxing gym together, but are not romantically involved.

Letitia took a break from Walford in 1995 but reprized her role in 2001 until 2006 before making an official comeback in 2012 and having completely transformed her figure.

During her time away, she released a fitness DVD in 2008 called Letitia Dean’s Lean Routine, while also working with Natalie’s personal trainer in an effort to get healthier.

During a rare interview for EastEnders spin-off show Secrets from the Square in 2020, Letitia spoke out about the cruel comments she had received over the years about her appearance.

She said: ‘I’ve had quite a few terrible things said about me: ‘She’s too fat, the other actors complain they can’t fit on the same set with her.’

In 2009, she admitted that she had experimented with ‘fad diets’, telling the Daily Record: ‘I would be on a fad diet like Atkins, otherwise I would only eat eggs. The effect was great, even though my breath smelled bad.

‘In a few weeks I was due to lose a stone, but gradually I fell back into my old habits and put everything back together.’