How Scammers Use Celebrity Names to Steal Money

header image that shows a famous celebrity's face made of pixelated digital fragments, fading into a cloud of social media icons, money, and warning signs
Scammers are increasingly using the names of celebrities to trick people into giving them money. This scheme works by playing on trust—since we’re inclined to believe public figures and their words. Scammers exploit this by creating fake social media accounts, sending spam messages, or organizing fake contests.

Cryptocurrency Giveaways

The world of cryptocurrency, which attracts millions with promises of quick profits, has become a goldmine for scammers. One of the most common and effective fraud schemes involves using the names of famous people to organize fake digital asset giveaways.

Scammers create fake accounts on social media, messaging apps, or special platforms, imitating the communication style, photos, and even videos of popular bloggers, businesspeople, or celebrities. The goal is to create the illusion of authenticity and earn the trust of potential victims.

The scammers, posing as a celebrity, announce a grand giveaway of a large sum of cryptocurrency to their followers. The prizes can range from small amounts of Bitcoin to entire forks of new cryptocurrencies. To participate, victims are asked to perform a few simple tasks:

  • Follow certain channels or groups on social media.
  • Like and repost the giveaway announcement.
  • Send a small amount of cryptocurrency to the given wallet as a “participation fee” or “tax on the winnings.”
  • Fill out a form with personal information.

Scammers stir up excitement by creating artificial buzz, posting fake comments with enthusiastic reviews, and warning that spots are limited or that the giveaway is about to end.

Fake Livestreams

Social media and livestreaming platforms have given scammers new tools to deceive trusting users and steal money. One of the most common schemes is creating fake livestreams featuring celebrities. Scammers carefully mimic the style, mannerisms, and visual content of popular bloggers, actors, or musicians. They create fake accounts on platforms like Instagram Live, YouTube, or Twitch.

During the livestream, the scammer impersonates the celebrity, answering questions from viewers and interacting in real-time. They often use pre-prepared scripts or even deepfake technology to make the impersonation as realistic as possible. During the stream, the scammers ask viewers to take certain actions, such as transferring money to a specific account, subscribing to other channels, or buying products. The promises are often irresistible: exclusive gifts, a chance for personal interaction with the celebrity, or participation in exclusive events.

Why is this scheme so effective?

  • Trust in celebrities: People tend to believe public figures and take their words at face value.
  • Emotional engagement: Livestreams create a sense of direct communication, strengthening the emotional connection with the celebrity and lowering viewers’ critical thinking.
  • Difficulty detecting fakes: Modern technology allows for highly realistic forgeries that are hard to distinguish from the real thing.
  • Anonymity of scammers: Livestream platforms often provide a high level of anonymity, making it difficult to trace and punish scammers.

Scammers also create a sense of urgency, claiming the offer is time-limited or that spots are running out, pushing viewers to make quick, thoughtless decisions.

Requests for Charity Donations

The worlds of show business and charity are closely linked. However, scammers often take advantage of this connection by creating fake charity campaigns featuring celebrities. They create fake social media accounts, mimicking the communication style and visual content of the celebrity.

Messages are then posted from the celebrity’s “account” asking for donations to charity. This can be related to a current issue (like a natural disaster or a child’s illness) or a personal initiative of the celebrity. Victims are asked to transfer money to a specified account to help those in need. Scammers may use fake certificates, charity logos, or even phony news about the campaign being supported by other public figures.

Investment Scams

Scammers skillfully manipulate people’s trust by creating the illusion of reliable and promising investment projects. They fabricate a story about how a celebrity is investing in a new, promising project and invites their fans to join.

They forge documents to back up the celebrity’s involvement, such as contracts, letters, and even video messages. Scammers then create artificial buzz, posting positive reviews and news about rising asset values. Victims are asked to invest, with promises of high returns and quick profits.

How Not to Fall Victim to Scammers

Using celebrity names to steal money is one of the most common online fraud schemes. Scammers skillfully manipulate people’s trust by creating the illusion of reliability and the potential for big rewards. Here’s how to avoid falling into their trap:

  1. Verify the information: Before making any decisions, thoroughly check the details about the project, celebrity, and organizer. Look for independent reviews and analysis.
  2. Be cautious with suspicious offers: If you’re offered something too good to be true, stay alert.
  3. Avoid clicking on links from unknown sources: Scammers often send phishing emails with fake links to websites that collect credit card data.
  4. Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication: This will help protect your accounts from hacking.
  5. Don’t trust promises of easy money: If someone promises quick and easy profits, it’s most likely a scam.
  6. Consult with experts: If needed, consult a lawyer or financial advisor.

Scammers are constantly improving their methods, so it’s important to stay vigilant and critically assess the information you receive online. By following these simple safety rules, you can protect yourself from these schemes.