Scammers Target Victims Worldwide Using Fake Celebrity Identities

Billions lost to schemes impersonating stars like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Johnny Depp

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Scammers are using the identities of well-known celebrities without their permission to trick people into giving them money, with billions lost to these schemes last year. Celebrities like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Johnny Depp have had their identities used by scammers to create environments that seem familiar to victims, making it easy for them to be deceived.

Why it matters

The rise of AI technology is making it increasingly difficult to detect fake videos of celebrities and other well-known figures, enabling scammers to more effectively impersonate them and defraud victims. This trend has resulted in billions of dollars in losses globally, highlighting the need for greater awareness and protection against these sophisticated scams.

The details

Scammers create environments that seem familiar to victims, making it easy for them to be deceived. For example, Dana Kiner of Cincinnati was conned into believing she was in a relationship with TV actor Shemar Moore, resulting in her losing thousands of dollars. A report by Spikerz quantifies the trend, revealing that $5.3 billion was lost to celebrity scams in the U.S. last year, with 72% of people having encountered such scams and 10% losing money or data.

  • In 2025, scammers stole an estimated $5.3 billion from victims in the U.S. through celebrity impersonation schemes.

The players

Taylor Swift

A popular American singer-songwriter whose identity has been used by scammers without her permission.

Sabrina Carpenter

An American actress and singer whose identity has been used by scammers without her permission.

Johnny Depp

A renowned American actor whose identity has been used by scammers without his permission.

Mark Schnitter

The CIO of Nexigen, a cybersecurity firm in Newport, Kentucky, who explains the tactics used by scammers.

Dana Kiner

A 54-year-old woman from Cincinnati who was conned into believing she was in a relationship with TV actor Shemar Moore, resulting in her losing thousands of dollars.

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What they’re saying

“This happens a lot. The bad guys, we call them bad actors. That is the term that's used in the cybersecurity world for people that are going to attempt to do malicious acts.”

— Mark Schnitter, CIO, Nexigen (wbal.com)

“I just fell in love with somebody I thought was Shemar Moore. It turns out it wasn't, but I fell hard.”

— Dana Kiner (wbal.com)

“The offer of marriage, like I'm 54 and nobody wants to grow old alone. I was just looking for love and got duped.”

— Dana Kiner (wbal.com)

What’s next

Experts recommend that consumers be cautious of unsolicited messages or offers from celebrities, and to verify the authenticity of any such communications before providing any personal or financial information.

The takeaway

The rise of sophisticated AI technology is enabling scammers to more effectively impersonate well-known celebrities, resulting in billions of dollars in losses globally. This highlights the need for greater awareness and protection against these types of scams, which can have devastating impacts on victims.