Celebrity Imposter Scams on Social Media: Signs and Ways to Protect Yourself
If your favorite celebrity reached out to you on social media, pause. Just think for a moment: Is it even real? Why would this celebrity DM you all of a sudden?
Before you get too excited or even have the urge to text back, remember that thousands have fallen prey to celebrity imposter scams.
A Blake Shelton fan from Alabama made a payment of $17,500 to enter a $1 million contest that, as she was told, could make her the singer’s fan of the year. Of course, it wasn’t Blake Shelton or even his manager who was trying to lure a woman into this. It was in fact a scammer who pretended to be someone he wasn’t.
A Gal Gadot fan from Utah who sent an imposter $1,700 also knows what it’s like to lose money to someone who claims to be a celebrity.
But how do celebrity imposter scams work? And how to safeguard yourself from them?
How Celebrity Imposter Scams Work on Social Media
Social media is rife with unscrupulous individuals waiting to defraud unsuspecting and gullible victims. Celebrity imposters are one of them. They operate by pretending to be well-known—or lesser-known celebrities in some cases—and send private messages to their fans on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, X, and others. There are usually two reasons for this: They either plan to steal fans’ money or personal information. Sometimes both.
Celebrity imposters come up with different stories and excuses about why they can’t reach their funds. In most cases, they ask fans to send them money and, as soon as they have access to their bank account, they’ll repay them more for their help. Of course, this isn’t true. The second a fan makes a transfer, a criminal blocks them and starts searching for another victim.
Imposters choose their victims carefully, usually aiming at seniors, children, or die-hard fans who would do anything for their favorite celebrity to notice them.
Of course, to be more plausible, in some cases, they choose lesser-known celebrities (not A+ listers) for this deception, as not everyone will believe that Beyonce or Angelina Jolie could ask for money on Instagram.
5 Common Signs of Celebrity Imposter Scams
There are many signs that give away celebrity imposters on social media platforms. Here are the most common ones:
- Unverified accounts with a small number of followers
Celebrities usually have hundreds of thousands or even millions of followers on social media platforms. That means if Selena Gomez, for example, who currently has 423 million followers on Instagram, DMs you from an account with 11 followers and asks for money, rest assured you’re talking to a scammer.
- Emotional manipulation
Emotional manipulation from celebrity imposters involves pressure, urgency, or evoking sympathy. For example, a criminal may say that they need money urgently and insist you send it as soon as possible. They could also act pitiful in order to make you feel sorry for them. Don’t forget that they also often promise to repay the funds back in larger amounts.
- Poor grammar or spelling
Celebrities are also regular people, and their grammar or spelling may not be perfect. But this usually indicates that you’re talking to a person who barely knows English or is in a hurry to defraud you. If you know that the celebrity who’s supposedly texting you is American or British but their grammar leaves much to be desired, it’s a telltale sign that you’re communicating with an imposter.
- Unusual payment methods
When a celebrity asks you to make a payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers, it’s a clear sign that you’re being targeted by a scammer. The thing is, the payments through the above-mentioned means are hard to trace, which means that the second you send the money, the law enforcement won’t always be able to determine the recipient.
- Promises of exclusive opportunities
VIP access, meet-and-greets, prize giveaways, or even meeting for a coffee are some of the most commonly used baits celebrity imposters use to take advantage of their victims. The thirst for money is real, and scammers know how to come up with convincing stories that would make their victims trust them.
How to Protect Yourself From a Celebrity Imposter Scam
- Don’t Be Quick to Send Money
No matter how convincing the story is, take a step back and think. Ask yourself: Why is the celebrity reaching out to you? Are you their big fan, or did they just find your account by accident and decided to ask you a favor?
Verify every single fact they provide by doing your research online. Talk with someone you trust and ask for their advice before sending money to a person who might be an imposter.If you eventually do decide to send them money, make sure it’s done through traceable payment methods, such as credit or debit cards, online payment platforms like PayPal or Venmo, or digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay. Cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and gift cards should be avoided at all cost.
- Don’t Share Your Personal Information
If the person in question starts asking for your personal information, such as bank account details, passwords, Social Security number, or medical information (e.g. insurance numbers or health records), there’s a very high possibility that you’re dealing with a criminal.
All this information, if shared, can be exploited for fraud or discrimination. If somebody, let’s say, uses your insurance information to pay for their medical treatments, you’ll be the one who will have to take the burden of paying back the debt. - Block and Report Suspicious Accounts
If you’re convinced that the person behind a social media account is an imposter, simply block them to avoid interacting with them.
To protect other users from becoming victims of celebrity imposters, report this account to the platform for them to investigate and address your concerns.Depending on the findings, any social media platform might delete or restrict the account or issue a warning.
- Educate Yourself on Scams
Celebrity imposter scams and other scams on social media are way too common these days. That’s why it’s important to be aware and educate yourself about the most widespread scams to protect your money and personal details.Don’t forget to share the information you’ll learn with your family and friends, especially children and older adults, as they’re more susceptible to scams.
Summing Up
Many individuals fall prey to celebrity imposter scams. One of the reasons is not being too careful and not verifying the details. Remember, it’s very unlikely for celebrities, especially A listers, to reach out to someone on social media and ask for financial help.
If you spot one or more warning signs discussed in this blog post, feel free to block the account in question and report it to the platform.
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