Top Italian influencer probed for fraud in ‘Pandoro’ case

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Top Italian influencer and businesswoman Chiara Ferragni has been placed under investigation for fraud by Milan prosecutors due to her role in a charity Christmas cake initiative she endorsed, local media reported Monday.

The criminal probe was launched after Italy's antitrust authority issued fines last month of over €1 million ($1.09 million) to companies linked to Ferragni and €420,000 to Italian company Balocco for unfair commercial practice in relation to sales of a pink-iced Pandoro Christmas cake “branded” by Ferragni.

The competition watchdog said customers were led to believe that by purchasing the cake, they would be contributing a donation to a pediatric hospital in Turin, when in fact a donation of €50,000 had already been made by Balocco on its own months earlier.

The companies linked to Ferragni allegedly earned more than €1 million from the initiative, documents showed.

According to Italian media, prosecutors are also looking at other charity initiatives endorsed by Ferragni, including Easter eggs produced by food company Dolci Preziosi that allegedly earned her far more than the amount donated to the good cause in question.

Last month, following the antitrust fine, Ferragni apologized on her social media account for misleading consumers over the Pandoro purchases.

Ferragni, who has almost 30 million followers on Instagram, promised to donate €1 million to Turin’s Regina Margherita pediatric hospital.

On Monday, she said she is confident in the magistrates' work as she has always acted "in good faith."