Gone are the days when you needed a Hollywood agent or a press pass to reach the rich and famous. Now? A tweet, a comment, or a DM can connect you directly with your idol, consequently turning celebrity access into a “free for all.” While this seismic shift empowers creators and fans alike, it also creates a breeding ground for online fraud, meaning fraudsters can pose as any celebrity to steal your money and data.
Their methods for scamming are slicker than ever, no doubt. However, they all share one common flaw: using the same old tired playbook, which anyone serious about their online safety can detect. From chatbot scams if you’re looking for love to deepfakes, bad actors are using a variety of methods.
In this guide, we’ll discuss seven of the most common celebrity scams you might encounter on social media and how to avoid them.
The Fake Giveaway Trap
“Congratulations! You’ve won free tickets to a Taylor Swift concert. Click here to claim!” I mean, come on! You don’t need a degree in cybersecurity to tell that this is an outright scam. Such bogus giveaways are implemented by scammers on fake celebrity profiles. They lead to phishing sites that, upon interaction—even if it’s just clicking a link—can result in stolen personal information, financial loss, and malware attacks.
Celebrities rarely, if ever, DM fans personally about giveaways, and any link that demands payment to receive a prize is a scam; accounts behind such dubious requests have subtle misspellings (e.g., @TaylorSwiftt) that mislead users. So, before you go claiming your “prize,” check that the verified account is real.
Celebrity Investment Scams
Remember that one time in July 2020 when several X (formerly Twitter) accounts of high-profile individuals, including Elon Musk, were hacked and used to promote a crypto scam? This is just one of the many incidents prone to happen on social media. Plus, they cut across all financial industries. But how can you identify them? Watch out for:
· “Guaranteed” high returns with no risk.
· Urgent calls to action: “Only 3 spots left!”
· Requests for crypto or gift card payments—because really, why would Mark Zuckerberg, for example, need $150 in Apple gift cards to give you some Facebook shares?
· Cold calls and messages on social platforms.
It’s always better to cross-check opportunities on the SEC website or financial news outlets instead of trusting users you don’t know on social networks.
Charity Impersonations
“Help Ukraine—endorsed by Kim Kardashian!” This call for action stirs up human sympathy and could be genuine. Why? Celebrities are known to lend their voices during global crises—likewise scammers, who create fake charity pages and slap on a few celebrity endorsements to build credibility, thereby preying on the emotions of genuine supporters.
They are easy to tell apart from real celebrities because they emotionally appeal to you to donate urgently, provide Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp as payment options, and have no link to verified nonprofit websites.
Romance and Chatbot Scams
Alright, we’ve all heard of this one, and some of us might have even been victims in the past. I’m talking about the classic: “Hey, it’s Jason Momoa. I think we have a connection… I just need $500 for my visa…” as seen on dating apps and Facebook in particular. You might be thrilled to know an A-list actor finds you attractive, but when this Jason Scam-oa texts you from a Gmail account called ‘acquamanlover69@,’ maybe it’s high time you reconsidered your life choices.
Romance scams work by emotionally baiting victims into fake relationships, often over weeks or even months, before slipping in that inevitable money request. You can tell it’s a scam by their over-the-top declarations of love within days, refusal to video call or voice chat, and the like.
To stay safe, never send money to anyone you’ve never met in person.
Fake Meet-and-Greet Offers
Imagine stumbling on an Instagram page announcing an “exclusive backstage pass” to meet Drake for $200; that’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see Champagne Papi up close. However, is this deal too good to be true? Absolutely—because it is. That page is likely run by scammers posing as promoters or “official reps” to sell fake tickets or passes. You can also tell it’s a scam if there’s no mention of the event on the artist’s official channels.
Deepfake Product Endorsements
In this type of scam, scammers use AI-generated deepfakes, a lot of which we’re now seeing on TikTok and other platforms, to make it look like celebrities are endorsing products they’ve never even heard of, usually miracle weight-loss tea, hair growth serums, or sketchy “free” trials that quietly sign you up for expensive monthly charges.
Agencies such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the US have enforced policies against such underhanded practice and provide alerts and warnings in this regard.
Counterfeit Autographs and Merchandise
You just found a “limited-edition” signed hoodie of Justin Bieber on Facebook Marketplace for a steal at $50, but there’s no certificate of authenticity (COA). When you ask for proof or background on the item, the seller appears evasive. For one, the product’s below-market value alone is a dead giveaway—a tactic scammers often use to lure in budget-conscious buyers.
While it’s tempting to score the best deal on a celebrity’s merch, always buy from their official store and use a credit card for added fraud protection. When in doubt, walk away.
Conclusion
It’s perfectly fine to support or interact with your favorite celebrities, but it should never be at the expense of your online safety, especially if the interaction is sending clear warning signs that you might be dealing with a scammer. For all you know, the person on the other end might not be your idol at all—and in most cases, they aren’t. So don’t fall for their tricks; take note of the tips in this guide, and keep your guard up.
