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Did your favorite celebrity reach out to you on social media?

Before you get too excited, are you sure it’s that person? Really sure? We’ve heard reports that scammers, who will try just about anything to separate you from your money, are now posing as celebrities on social media. They’re asking fans to send money for all kinds of supposed reasons – like claiming a prize, donating to a charity, or giving help of some kind. Some celebs do raise money for legitimate causes. But you want to be sure the cause—and the person asking you to support it—are real.

Imposter scams come in many varieties, but they all work the same way: a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money. And that’s exactly what these celebrity imposters are trying to do.

So what should you do if a celebrity contacts you on social media and asks for money?

  • Slow down. Before you send money, talk with someone you trust.
  • Do some research: search online for the celebrity’s name plus “scam.” Do the same with any charity or cause they’re asking you to support—and learn more about charity scams here.
  • Never send money, gift cards or prepaid debit cards to someone you don’t know or haven’t met – even celebrities you meet on social media.
  • If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money (your bank, wire transfer service, gift card company, or prepaid debit card company). Tell them the transaction was a fraud. Ask the company to reverse the transaction, if it’s possible.
  • Report your experience to the social media site and to the FTC.

To learn more about imposter scams, visit FTC.gov/imposters.

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
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  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

tduncan
May 17, 2020
Shemar Moore fake account on hang outs and tick tock. He just ask me to buy him a 50 gift card so he can buy a app for his laptop. he proceeds to say he can't leave work to do it. i told him no then he sends a screen shot of his so called paypal account showing he has 95 thousand dollars. Whatever. i wasn't born yesterday.
Too good
July 13, 2020

In reply to by tduncan

I’m having the same thing going on right now. He’s sending me poetry everyday and tells me that he’s going to marry me. That he wants me to move to LA. To be with him he sends pictures of himself with family. We talk for hours on WhatsApp he also text me on a supposedly private line. I text him on it but he says his management is connected to it. He insisted that I open up the notifications on Instagram so I can get the pictures he post. It’s funny because somehow he always sends me the picture before it’s posted. But needs steam card or google play cards to get his scrips for work. Oh even said that I would be going on set with him to meet everyone on swat. I haven’t given any money. He keeps saying that he understand that I can’t, but keeps asking.
Scamalert12
December 04, 2020

In reply to by Too good

This is not someone pretending to be Tom hardy by any chance?
Don't use your…
May 17, 2020
I had one say they him on intergram you then facetime me look like him for real how I know its really not .
Natty
July 01, 2020
I have been contacted by Scott Eastwood (scammer I'm guessing). He has been really nice so far been chatting a month, not asked for money as yet. scotteastwood132@ is the email he is using. He has deleted the instagram account that he added me on, which wasn't the official one of the real celebrity. I want to see how far he will take this.
christina
February 18, 2021

In reply to by Natty

Hi, thanks for sharing this. May I ask you how did this ended? I am reaching out to you because a member of my family was also contacted by a similar account "scott eastwood132"..
mrb
May 19, 2020
I was just approached on Instagram by "Keanu Reeves." He followed me, then started chatting. Then he wanted to use WHATSAPP to continue. First, idle chit chat. Then he started talking about his foundation for children with cancer. I quickly Googled it, found articles that talked about his children's charity BUT there were scores and scores of articles called "Keanu Reeves Secretly Runs A Charitable Foundation" but not one published by a legitimate news publication (a favorite trick of scammers is to flood the Internet with fake publicity so it ranks high on Google). Then he started pressuring me to make a donation. I told him the COVID 19 shutdown left me broke, he kept pushing anyway, wanted my PayPal. I told him I had found his foundation and donated $5 to it (not really). He told me I had gone to the wrong foundation, HIS was in China! And I had to donate at least $500! I screenshot all of the chats, then blocked him on Instagram and WhatsApp. (I don't like WhatsApp because it's so often used for scams, so I removed it from my phone.)
Mary
May 25, 2020

In reply to by mrb

Recently I was approached by a "Keanu Reeves" on instagram, his profile is very discreet like Charles the Wall. I I showed myself suspicious and said tha Keanu doesn t have social media, he said that he created the profile because he is annoyed because of the quarantine and that he will delete it later. He said that he is not dating Alexandra, that they are great friends, but that the rest is invention of the media. He says he's looking for a woman to love. Anyway, the introduction to the conversation was strange, he introduces himself and says "I hope you are a good Christian or Muslim". In the meantime I said that I would not continue to speak without a proof, and I asked for a video call, he said he would call me, he called but I couldn't see him, and said he would prefer to speak on WhatsApp and that he would call from there and gave me his number. I'm suspicious and I'm going to talk a little bit to see if there will really be a video call and if he will end up asking for money.
Jeweli73
June 17, 2020

In reply to by Mary

So what happened now? I was approached by "Keanu Reeves" recently on Instagram. He said he couldn't get his account verified because he would deactivate it soon. He said he was too bored due to the pandemic. He asked me to meet him on Hangouts and exchanged messages everyday and he never once asked for money. I asked him for a real video call and he said he couldn't make any video calls due to his management policy. His grammar was perfect. I couldn't see his real face. So All these stuff seemed so real.
Cindy
June 18, 2020

In reply to by Jeweli73

Be careful. He a scammer. You must read all pages of these comments.
Kissme7
May 20, 2020
Today is May 20th 2020. I was in Twitter and followed Alexander Dreymon @AlexaderDreymon (see the sp. why didn’t I see that), since I really loved TLK. Well, he reach out me and the account was locked so you have to write to him in order to followed him. We exchanged messages for a week and I fell for it. Very badly and he even wants me to installed the Hike Messenger apps. I was like who in hell would write to me like him. I was crazy and madly In love with him. I know so sound silly right. I even sent my pictures and I gave him a diff phone numbers(not my real numbers). He asked for a donations for the charity and told him that I cannot afford it but he insisted and want me to do it right away and I did. But then for some reason I sent it to the wrong country and never got picked up, so I cancelled it. The he send me his actor’s agreement contract to let me know that’s the reason why we can’t talked over the phone. To make the story short. I found out that the contract was all fake, the witness signatures are not matched with their witnesses names. Everything was off. He would write me Messages on Hike messenger and every time he do that I’ll be gone crazy. Thinking like I must be so lucky to have someone who is famous writing to me. Anyway, I wrote to his Twitter account that he’s fake and he blocked me. So it’s a week romance fantasy I called it. Just be aware and do a lot of research please. I don’t think the real Alexander Dreymon would really picked me out of the blue and say I love you. It’s a long journey but I got over about it as soon as I found out that it’s a fake person.
elibizig2020
May 28, 2020
I was messaged by an imposter imposing as the Actor, Director and Producer of Matchmaker Mysteries a popular Hallmark series asking me for $1,000 or I couldn't join his fanclub. He or she is imposing as Victor Webster. Yeah! The Victor Webster and Shantel Vansanten. He's even daring me to Block them and sending me hate emails. He's a Stockbroker for Wall Street why would he need $1,000 ASAP. Please investigate this. I blocked his fan page.
Kim
May 30, 2020
Just a few days ago since I am hooked with Kdramas, in Netflix I started following and admiring the famous Lee Minho Korean actor. I started giving nice feedbacks with his shows, series, and surprsingly, somebody impersonated Lee Minho directly messaged me on my IG privately...strucking you a very nice warm conversation. Praising you with being a great fan and so forth and of course you as a naive fan try to flourish with it. Then the Imposter convinces you to switch to Hangouts app for their alibi is more private and much comfortable to use. I was convinced and installed the app and believe me, the striking conversation really impressive. What funny is, as I was chatting with the faker LMH, another new 2nd faker also messaged me on my IG privately and told me that he is the real one Lee Minho and I should block the other coz it's a fake. So I try to play along but something starts to trick inside of me. Then one day, I try to review our old chat history in my IG and there I found out that the scammer is no longer there in IG. He already deleted his account there. So this keep me bit doubtful and the 2nd fake one starts to slowly introducing that he is busy and be attending a foundation for children and thanking his supporters and having a short meet up. I was caught with it as he mentioned he has his meeting by 9 p.m...in the evening...which I find it really impossible and I am not stupid to fall for his prey...so i tossed in an article what are the certain tricks of this scammer and boom...the never ending list of scammers...orangization, fundings are listed...so this is an opener for me that I started to act and blocked these scammers without any having thoughts. And take note..they will always love to ask a lot of personal informations from you, your work, your coubtry, your status, if you are married and so forth. If you try to ask him to share some infos about himself, he will ignore you. So please, be aware of these kind of tricks. Believe me, I did enjoy the chat, what an experience but I am not a fool to send a money to a stranger. No way!
Summer
May 31, 2020
Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah of Jordan text me last mount on my Facebook I am a big fan of him I was so excited but when I saw the way he was texting and asking for money many times I figured out that wasn't him he was a Nigerian guy who just wanted money. Now I am scared too much if that harms me can someone please tell me how dangerous is that and what to do to save me, please I did report his page and they blocked him from Facebook, but I am scared if that causes me any problem. I have no idea why I become that idiot to trust that guy to be Prince Hussein. Please tell be is this gonna cause me any problem or no I didn't know anything that is why I texted him back I thought is was him.
Herman
July 24, 2020

In reply to by Summer

"Prince Hussein" recently started a game with me on Words with Friends! Really got into conversation...then it started getting really weird. I looked him up as a possible scammer and saw this post. Thanks.
Newyorkgirl
June 03, 2020
I was contacted by terrence howard on Instagram.i thought he was the real one. but when he told me he love me.then a couple of days he was asking for money.i knew he was a scammer.
Justin
June 04, 2020
I currently being scammed by someone posing as Zak Bagans who’s wants to give me a grant... but I had to give his agent information about myself so they could process it. It caught me off guard because I was star struck. Now I’m talking to the FBI to make sure this impersonator get justice
Bobby
June 05, 2020

In reply to by Justin

Have you sent money to that fraudster? , If you don't mind, tell me what's number contact or link of FBI. My friend has a case like that, and she had sent money to a scammer and she lives in an Asian country. The scammer is an American citizen.
Denise
June 07, 2020
Someone just tried to scan me claiming they were Kane Brown.wanted $300 gift card to restore his phone.
Cindy
June 09, 2020

In reply to by Denise

Be careful, that's a scammer and thief. The stupid story "to restore his phone".
Peggy
August 11, 2021

In reply to by Denise

Omgoodness!! This might be happening to me right now. He was texting me from facebook,then all of a sudden he told me to meet him on Hangout app. I wasn't sure about it? He started a conversation with me and asking me if I was married. Then he told I was approve for a membership to talk to him, Kane Brown. I ALWAYS like Kane Brown and his music. When I ask how it was he told me $2,000.00 He told if I pay for this I won't regret. I'm scared about this. I was scammed before. I don't want this to happen again to me!! I am a nice person and I don't want to be screw over. I am PRAYING that this is not what I'm thinking. Someone please help me!!!
Mattie b
June 08, 2020
Over the last month my friend gave me a number saying it was Courtney love and I have been talking to her and she asking for steam wallet gift cards a bank account and tons of stuff and telling me she might have a concert next month. Do you think this is a scam
Cindy
June 10, 2020

In reply to by Mattie b

I do believe, she is a fraudster. Be aware that's a fraud. Does the celebrity need gift cards?.
lyndsey gallagher
June 10, 2020
hi my name lyndsey gallagher i have fake johnny depps on google hanghouts asking me for money and iTunes cards every day and night he says that he a real hacker and that wont stop you blocking me i allaways come right back now i know its a fake account its gone on to long now something neeeds to be done about it it all started on Twitter then google hanghouts why would johnny depp be asking fans for money and cards doesn't make sense to me at all my laptop got hacked 3 times then he hacked my email account my hotmail one i keep blocking them on there to johnny needs to told about this its upsetting me and my family johnny says that he in love with me but thats not true because i have never met him in person whoever this man is well he nuts and wants puting away he sick in the head
lyndsey gallagher
June 11, 2020
johnny depp is on Instagram and facebook but not google hanghouts people need to be wear of this like i was thinking it was him but its not tho google hanghouts is a unsafe site please do not go on there or use it im staying of it all together for my own good very bad nasty people on there
cute
June 11, 2020
There are hundreds of profiles using the name Tom Cruise who speak to me. They all love me, write passionate poems. They are on all social networks. But they always find a way to ask for money, Itunes, amazon card, fan tikets .. .I do not give anything. Detail: they immediately ask what you do for a living ...
Carlabear82
June 15, 2020
I think I just got scammed by a county singer. Done sent over $500. The money should have been used for something else. And he is asking for more and put it on coinmama.
Cindy
June 15, 2020

In reply to by Carlabear82

Did you just give your money to a country singer over $ 500?. Does he not have money?. Or just borrow and will return it to you?.
VE
July 04, 2020

In reply to by Carlabear82

I think i am also scammed by somebody impersonating Sam Claflin. He asked me to donate to children homes through coinmama. Sounds like the same method being used.
NH23
January 14, 2021

In reply to by VE

Could you elaborate? I recently was contacted by a sam claflin, he hasn't asked me to donate or give up anything yet but im very skeptical. How long did it take for him to ask that?
TJA
June 28, 2021

In reply to by NH23

How long have you been talking to him? A similar situation is happening to a family member of mine. He supposedly contacted her via IG and then what’s app. He didn’t ask for money but claimed to have legal trouble with universal studios in hopes she will offer. They appear to want personal information and is claiming to meet her in NYC and DC but never showed in both. They also have sent her gifts that are very suspicious professing love when they haven’t met.
Cisco3430
June 15, 2020
I just got contacted by Sasha bank she want me to help her by picking up money from a security company that she was supposed to do a concert but it got canceled so she wants me to pick it up and hold it for her I have her on the hook on WhatsApp and she thinks I don’t know this is a scam she said she’s going to do a live video chat tomorrow morning and it has to be quick because she’s in camp and if she gets court on the phone she can loose her job I can’t believe they think all of us are stupid like really would Sasha banks really ask me to go to a private chat on WhatsApp would she really ask me to help her to pickup money and hold it for her not a little money she’s talking about $800.000SD and trusting me to hold it for her because she’s busy and when she is less busy she will come and meet me to pick it up I so just want to keep going along with this just to get her or them busted in person I wish i had that type of money just to set her up and have the fbi waiting for her or him anyone know how to bust the or have any idea wait I am watching Monday night raw right now and there’s Sasha backs live but this person is still texting me and saying she is Sasha banks how’s that possible
Summer
June 16, 2020
I got scammed a month ago by a Nigerian guy who pretended to be prince Hussain of Jordan. He texts me on Facebook and I answered him which I wish I never did. He asked for the gift card and cash all the time. He was acting so real wich was hard to know that wasn't him he always sent me romance poems and love text messages. But I knew he was a scammer and his goal was money nothing else but I still pretended I didn't know he wasn't Prince Hussain and report his fake Facebook page much time until Facebook blocked him from Facebook I feel so so bad because talking with a guy for first time in my life I feel so guilty but at least I saved other women by being scammed and I am happy Facebook blocked him from Facebook.
Jorgina B
June 16, 2020
Did anyone ever receive any scam from Post Malone?
Leise
December 26, 2020

In reply to by Jorgina B

Yes I have and I think its happening again on his fan page I just wished him a merry Christmas and safe new year and now he wants me to join on hangouts or whatsapp app
Jessie M
February 04, 2021

In reply to by Jorgina B

I did on instagram last year in the UK , they got my details because I liked a few post malone pics (you can change instagram option so nobody except the person can see your likes) started to chat to me on hangout app and now he wants me to send them money. Please don't fall for it guys. As soon as money is mentioned...run for the hills
Hela
June 18, 2020
Any Nic Cage scams?
Tucker43055
June 19, 2020
The scammers are now on LinkedIn. They are using the profile called John Wick and say they are Keanu Reeves. Same story as the rest. They want your phone number, send pics, horrible grammar and spelling, want to video chat on hangouts. It's a shame that the social media hosts can't shut these down.
Roxy
June 20, 2020
I think I’m being played by Keanu Reeves impersonator. The only things is he won’t show me any pictures or video. Seems really sweet. The only proof I have is a credit card with his name looks really legit no numbers showing. Just having fun. I told him I’ll never send him money. He has never asked for it. We’ll see what happens.
Scorpionchic82
June 21, 2020
I have several of them asking for banking information, SSN and my address. And when I refuse they get angry and tell me I’m wasting their time. Have also been asked to send nude photos of myself, and buy gift cards and send a picture of the receipt. Scammers are lowlifes who need to grow up and leave people alone.
Sally B
June 22, 2020
I was almost scammed by someone claiming to be Garth Brooks, only they spelled Garth, Grath. And yes, they wanted money.
Love
June 22, 2020
There are new zac efron cheaters on instagram. Please be careful. They are fraudsters. Don't believe him. You want to quickly switch to hangouts or WhatsApp. Not to believe. These are scammers.
elibizig2020
June 22, 2020
I just found out that a celebrity fanpage was hacked by a scammer!! I hated to delete it, but the scammer used threatening messaging text to me such as There's no scammers on this page you're speaking with the Dalle of Shantel and Victor fanpage did not happen says Dalle in a threatening way!! Look I'm a very likable person and have lots of Facebook friends who love me. I don't speak ill about anyone! But somehow the took $39.95 out of my account.
AlexandraR
June 25, 2020
I’m being asked for money by someone impersonating Bob Dylan. This has been going on for over a year now. Has anyone else encountered Bob Dylan asking for money? I just don’t know how to stop it. Any comments welcome.
Candyskull
June 25, 2020
At the moment I’m on hangout with someone who said he’s Liam Neeson, I got an picture which I can’t even find anywhere, we’ve talked on and off and I’m so confused
Cindy
June 27, 2020

In reply to by Candyskull

Be careful, he is a scammer. You can read many comments from many victims on these pages.
babylove53
June 25, 2020
Has anyone been scam by Common? sound like things he would say but, i already give to common ground, I'm enjoying the conversation but cash app really.
Blackie
June 27, 2020
I was contract by shania twain though Facebook about a week ago she gave me a numder to text her when ever then she wanted me to go to google hangouts where we could talk she was asking questions and Telling me about her marriage etc we talk on google hangouts for over a week off and on during the day seem like she was pretty nice she even kinda came on in a way and being married seem like she was looking to have affair then she brought up about charity and donations she was working on and asked if I ever donated to anything I said yes I did then shania asked if I donated to her chairtys for the kids I said we meet first and then I maybe would donate shainia said why not now again I said meeting first never heard from shania again ! So if shania is this kind of person and wants fans I was a fan of shania s but not anymore I just lost my interest in her and her music all my shania music stuff has all been put in a box and burnt
Ladiibug89
June 29, 2020
One guy was posing as ice cube asking me to send him money for studio time
sadden
June 30, 2020
received messages from Max Martini. Made it a while before he asked for money. Talked very well. Not sure if anyone else has.
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