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Famous Faces, Fake Messages

Social media can make it feel like we’re closer than ever to our favorite celebrities. But if you suddenly get a private message from a musician, actor, or athlete you admire, don’t get starstruck – get skeptical. It’s almost certainly a scam.

Criminals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate celebrities – from Brad Pitt to Elon Musk – and steal fans' savings. Here’s how these scams work and how you can protect yourself.

How It Works

  • You follow your favorite celebrity on social media and regularly like or comment on their posts.
  • One day, you get a private message claiming to be from the celebrity or a member of their team, like their manager, offering exclusive access, an invitation to a special event, or to ask for help supporting a charity.
  • Over time, the “celebrity” claims a financial need and asks for your help.
spinner image cartoon of a woman holding a megaphone

Have you seen this scam?

  • Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 or report it with the AARP Scam Tracking Map.  
  • Get Watchdog Alerts for tips on avoiding such scams.

What You Should Know

  • That personal attention isn’t from the celebrity. It’s from a criminal impersonating them or someone close to them.
  • Scammers tailor the scam tactic based on the target’s responses to lean into a romance scam or perhaps a charity scam. The story may change, but the goal is always the same – to steal money and personal information.
  • They often urge targets to move the conversation off social media to a platform like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal; they may steal the target’s funds by coaching them on how to use gift cards or cryptocurrency to send money on false pretenses.   
  • With AI, criminals can now clone voices, create fake videos and livestreams, and post convincing ads, making impostor scams even harder to spot.

What You Should Do

  • Enjoy following celebrities online, but know that engaging with their posts could make you more visible to scammers.
  • Anytime an unexpected communication puts you into a state of high emotion (like excitement) and involves urgency, let that be your signal to disengage because it’s likely a scam.
  • Report fake celebrity accounts or impostors directly to the social media platform; victims should report to law enforcement and insist on a record in the event of possible future restitution.

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