Celebrities are used to seeing their faces everywhere—billboards, magazine covers, memes—but what they probably don’t expect is their name being used to scam unsuspecting fans out of millions. From fake charity appeals to elaborate romance hoaxes, scammers are weaponizing star power to pull off some truly jaw-dropping frauds. Let’s take a look at how these scams unfold and how you can avoid becoming the next victim.
Imagine thinking you’ve caught the eye of a Hollywood A-lister, only to find out it’s actually a scammer with AI-generated photos, a fake backstory, and way too much free time. That’s exactly what happened to Anne, a French interior designer who downloaded Instagram on a ski trip—only to be approached by someone claiming to be Brad Pitt’s mother. The scammer, posing as Pitt, showered her with emotional messages and built a false sense of intimacy, convincing her he was trapped in a financial crisis due to his divorce from Angelina Jolie.
Over 18 months, as Anne navigated her own divorce, she sent $850,000 to help her supposed soulmate with a fabricated kidney treatment. The truth hit hard when Pitt debuted his real girlfriend—exposing the scam and leaving Anne with nothing but heartbreak and an expensive lesson in online romance scams.
If you’ve ever seen a social media post claiming that Keanu Reeves is giving away money to lucky fans, spoiler alert: he’s not. Scammers set up fake celebrity accounts, post heartwarming messages, and promise cash, gift cards, or luxury items to those who ‘follow, share, and comment.’ Eventually, victims are asked to pay a ‘small fee’ to claim their prize—except the only ones cashing in are the fraudsters.
Scammers also use celebrities to tug at heartstrings. After disasters or crises, fake social media accounts pop up claiming to be famous figures raising money for victims. From Leonardo DiCaprio ‘collecting’ funds for climate change efforts to Rihanna ‘funding’ hurricane relief, these scams are designed to look convincing. The only problem? The money never reaches the intended cause.
Some fraudsters take things up a notch by creating fake investment opportunities endorsed by celebrities. Remember those deepfake videos of Elon Musk ‘explaining’ a crypto scheme? Scammers use AI-generated content to make it look like stars are personally vouching for these schemes. Once people buy in, the scammers disappear faster than a bad movie at the box office.
If Brad Pitt’s bank account were actually frozen, he wouldn’t be hitting you up for a loan—he’d be calling his accountant or his close family members.
Fake celebrity accounts can look legit but verified checkmarks and official websites will tell you the real story.
Real relationships and smart financial opportunities don’t come out of nowhere overnight.
If your ‘celebrity soulmate’ keeps making excuses not to meet in person but still asks for cash, it’s time to block and report.
If someone claiming to be a celebrity asks you to pay a ‘small fee’ to claim a prize, donate to a cause, or invest in a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity—walk away.
Scammers know that people trust and admire celebrities, which makes their fake stories even more convincing. They use edited photos, fake social media accounts, and even AI-generated videos to make their lies seem real. But in most cases, the actual celebrity has no clue their name or image is being used. If a famous person suddenly slides into your DMs asking for money, love, or an investment, don’t fall for it. A real celebrity only wants you to watch their movies, listen to their music, or follow their official pages—never to send them cash. Stay alert, stay skeptical, and don’t let scammers use star power to rob you blind.
