Beware of Celebrity Scams

Posted June 30, 2024

Celebrity scams rely on society’s trust in the people they see in movies, on TV, and on the internet. Unfortunately, scammers can use the influence of a celebrity persona to steal money from unsuspecting victims. Here’s what you need to know about these scams and how to protect yourself.

How the Scams Play Out

There are several ways celebrity scams play out:

• Online phishing schemes. In this ruse, a scammer pretends to be a celebrity to get personal information from unsuspecting victims. They may create fake social media accounts, send emails, or even set up fake websites to get credit card numbers, account information, and passwords. 
• Fraudulent charities. Here, a scammer will create fake charities and use a celebrity’s likeness to solicit donations. They may also use the celebrity’s name to advertise non-existent events or products in support of this bogus charity. Of course, any money donated will go directly into the scammer’s own account. 
• Fake autographs. In this variation, scammers attempt to sell fake autographs as authentic, often at a fraction of the cost of a real one. 
• Fake endorsements. In this scam, a scammer creates a fake promotional post that appears to be from the celebrity to sell their own product.

Protect Yourself

The best way to protect yourself from celebrity scams is to be vigilant. 

Do your research and make sure that every celebrity-endorsed social media post is legitimate. Be sure to verify a celebrity account before engaging with it. It’s also important to follow basic online safety rules at all times. Never share your credit card or account numbers with an unverified contact, and only visit secure websites.

When donating money to charity, even if it appears to be endorsed by a celebrity, it’s best to verify that it’s legitimate. You can look up the charity on a site like Charity Navigator or CharityWatch. 

Finally, when purchasing an autograph or buying a product that’s allegedly endorsed by a celebrity, verify that it’s legitimate. Use reputable dealers for autographs, as celebrities will never sell autographs directly to the public. If you believe a product is actually being endorsed by a celebrity, check out their account on another social media platform to see if they’re really promoting this product. 

Stay alert, and stay safe!

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a celebrity scam, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage. First, if you’ve been tricked into giving money with a credit card, dispute the charge as soon as possible. If you’ve shared your credit card information, cancel the card and consider placing a credit freeze on your name as well. Finally, let the FTC know about the circulating scam. 

Categories: Security