Frequently Asked Questions

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Celebrity-Impostor Scams are on the rise as we see technology and social-media continuing to advance. Please take the steps to protect you and your loved ones so you aren’t victim to one of these common scams.

INITIAL CONTACT

• In almost all cases, communication will begin on the platform on which the fan was interacting with the real artist or related post from a fan page. The scammer will ask them to switch to an alternative platform, where they can use tools to remain anonymous, such as email, Telegram, WhatsApp, or Google Chat.

BUILDING TRUST BETWEEN SCAMMER & VICTIM

• The scammer will continue conversations with the victim to convince them they are the real celebrity or someone who works close with the celebrity (ex. Manager, assistant, agent, etc.).
• While these exchanges may seem friendly and exciting, the scammer is building trust before requesting money or other confidential information from the potential victim.

REQUESTING MONEY

• Our clients and most celebrities will never personally message a fan requesting money in exchange for a meet-n-greet, private concert, exclusive fan-club membership, etc. This is a main red-flag for a celebrity-impostor scam.

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE

NEVER SEND MONEY

NEVER SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION

REPORT and BLOCK accounts or profiles that seem suspicious to you

• You can report accounts by filing with the social media platform as well as visiting https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/

Ensure the account is verified with the official badge. An official badge is always placed after the artist’s name or social media handle.

• If someone reaches out under the name of an artist or celebrity and their profile picture contains a blue check mark, it is safe to assume that it is a scammer or impersonator.

For more helpful information, visit https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/how-avoid-imposter-scams.