Scammers are posing as celebrities to trick fans out of their money. Johnny Depp, Kelly Rowland and Reba McEntire have recently warned their supporters about the alarming trend.
Stars are urging fans to stay vigilant, especially as scammers use advanced technology and artificial intelligence to make their impersonations more convincing.
Johnny Depp issues warning
Depp took to Instagram on Monday, Jan. 6 with a detailed warning for his fans. He emphasized that his official Instagram account is his only social media presence.
Depp stated he’s not on platforms like X, Snapchat, or Discord. Likewise, he said he doesn’t offer paid fan meetings, club memberships, or fan cards—opportunities scammers attempt to leverage for money.
“Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice,” Depp said in his post. “Scammers may look and sound just like the real me. But neither I, nor my team, will ask you for money or your personal information.”
Depp says his team is “actively working to combat these illicit schemes.”
Kelly Rowland fan targeted by impersonator
Singer and actress Kelly Rowland also shared a warning after facing a similar issue. Someone using the Instagram handle @iam.kellyrowland without a profile picture messaged a fan claiming they lost their credit card and needed money for a plane ticket to perform in the fan’s city.
The scammer followed up with another message, claiming to be Beyoncé.
Reba McEntire urges fans to be cautious
Last November, McEntire shared her own warning on Instagram. She stressed that neither she nor her team would ever contact fans via direct message or phone to solicit money.
McEntire urged her followers to protect themselves online and be wary of scammers attempting to exploit their admiration for her.
How to spot a scam
When it comes to online scams, there are clear red flags to watch for:
- Verify the account: Look beyond the blue checkmark. Check the account’s post history, follower count and activity to ensure authenticity.
- Be wary of urgent requests: Celebrities won’t ask for money or personal information through direct messages.
- Look out for odd spelling and grammar: Many scams contain typos or awkward phrasing, like the scammer who misspelled “plane” in messages pretending to be Rowland.
- Check website URLs: Always inspect links before clicking. Watch for subtle misspellings or unfamiliar domains.
