Think a Celebrity Messaged You? Michigan Says, Think Again
Look, we all want to believe that Channing Tatum slid into our DMs because he just knows we’re his soulmate. Or Taylor Swift saw you on Facebook and was like, "Check out this stud! I better reach out!"
Well, I hate to break it to you, but if a celebrity suddenly wants to chat, send you exclusive merch, or start a secret romance... It’s probably a scam.
Fake Celebs, Real Scams: What’s Hitting Michigan Now
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has been waving the red flag on this issue, reissuing consumer alerts as celebrity impersonation scams become more common across the state. The scammers aren’t just pretending to be your favorite musicians like Kid Rock or Eminem, or actors like Brad Pitt and Scarlett Johansson.
Some are pretending to be high-ranking military officers, like four-star generals, all in an attempt to get your money.
Nessel said in a release,
While it may be disappointing to hear, you are probably not in a secret, long-distance relationship with Garth Brooks. Scammers are constantly coming up with elaborate schemes to steal your money and may be posing as celebrities or public officials. If someone claiming to be Garth or any other famous figure is asking you personally for money, don’t send it. It’s almost certainly a scam.
READ MORE: Michiganders, Government Imposter Scams are on the Rise
Common Celebrity-Impersonation Scams in Michigan
The most common kind of celebrity impersonation scams that get reported to the Michigan Attorney General's office are:
- Romance scams: A scammer will try to make you believe you're in a relationship with a famous person in an attempt to get you to send them money
- Pig butchering: Fake business investment opportunities allegedly endorsed by a celebrity. Generally in this kind of scam you'll get a text from a stranger who attempts to develop a relationship with you.
- Merchandise scams: You're asked to buy "exclusive" merchandise from a scammer posing as a well-known individual
These scams can take place over the phone, via text, dating sites, or social media. Scammers might even go so far as to create deep-fake audio and video of famous folks.
👇BELOW: THE BIGGEST SCAMS BEING PULLED TODAY AND HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF👇
A common tactic is the person says they can't meet in person because they're in the military or working abroad in some other way. Another huge red flag is if the person asks for payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Needless to say, do not give these scammers any personal info or money and never agree to open a bank account or reship items sent to you.
More from the State of Michigan on how to protect yourself here.
LOOK: The biggest scams today and how you can protect yourself from them
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