Fraud Friday: Famous Friends Scam

Has a celebrity, athlete, or well-known public figure reached out asking for money? Pause and think—it could be a scam.

Scammers are increasingly impersonating well-known personalities using photos and videos stolen from legitimate websites and social media profiles.  Some even use AI-generated voice and video calls. These fake profiles can look incredibly convincing, which makes it easy to fall into their trap.

Fraudsters often exploit the excitement of connecting with someone famous to manipulate victims into sending money or sharing personal information. In romance-themed scams, they might claim they need funds for a down payment on a dream home for the two of you or a secret plane ticket to visit without their spouse finding out. Some may ask for help covering medical expenses for a confidential surgery or request donations to their “charity.”

Others spin elaborate stories about frozen assets due to legal issues, insist they’re working with the FBI, and need your help to fund an “off-the-books” investigation. They’ll say they can’t trust anyone in their inner circle, but they trust you.

Here’s the truth: real celebrities don’t need your money.

Stay alert. If someone famous is asking for financial help, it’s almost certainly a scam.

Be sure to check out our Blog or our page on Facebook for fraud tips every Friday. We’ll cover different types of fraud as well as red flags to help you identify when it might be a scam.

Remember, if you have questions about a possible fraud situation or just an uneasy feeling about a phone call, text, email, or transaction, feel free to contact the Fraud Department at (605) 934-2500.