Oct 23 (Reuters) - Warren Buffett will not endorse

investment products or political candidates, according to a

statement on conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway's ( BRK/A ) website,

in an apparent effort to ward off people trying to capitalize on

his reputation.

"In light of the increased usage of social media, there have

been numerous fraudulent claims regarding Mr. Buffett's

endorsement of investment products as well as his endorsement

and support of political candidates," the statement said. "Mr.

Buffett does not currently and will not prospectively endorse

investment products or endorse and support political

candidates."

Berkshire did not immediately respond to a request for comment

on Wednesday, including on which bogus endorsements prompted the

statement, which is undated.

He told CNBC the statement resulted partially from a fake

political endorsement on Meta Platforms' ( META ) Instagram

social media platform.

"I don't even know how to get on Instagram," Buffett told

the network. "Anything they see with my image or my voice, it

just ain't me."

Buffett, a Democrat, has been a supporter of Democratic

former President Barack Obama and Democratic former presidential

candidate Hillary Clinton.

Investors often try to piggyback on Berkshire when the

Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate announces new investments.

Buffett shuns cryptocurrency, and has said many investors are

better off owning stock index funds.

Buffett, 94, has run Berkshire since 1965. Through Tuesday,

investors who have owned the stock since then have had a more

than 5,500,000% overall gain.