Scammers Using Fake Identities of Celebrities to Target People Worldwide

Billions lost to these schemes last year as AI-generated impersonations become harder to detect

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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Scammers are increasingly using the identities of well-known celebrities without their permission to trick people into giving them money. A new report found that $5.3 billion was lost to these celebrity scams in the U.S. last year, with 72% of people having seen one and 10% losing money or data. The use of AI-generated fake videos and other impersonations is making it even harder for victims to detect the deception.

Why it matters

Celebrity fraud is a growing problem that can have serious financial and emotional consequences for victims. As AI technology advances, scammers are able to create more convincing impersonations that are difficult to identify, putting more people at risk of falling for these schemes. This issue highlights the need for greater awareness and education around online scams targeting vulnerable individuals.

The details

Scammers are using the identities of well-known celebrities like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Johnny Depp to trick people into giving them money. They set up fake social media profiles and other online personas to make the impersonations seem more believable. The scammers will often promise things like relationships, investment opportunities, or other financial incentives to lure in victims. With the help of AI, they can create fake videos and other content that is increasingly hard to detect as fraudulent.

  • In 2022, scammers stole an estimated $5.3 billion from victims in the U.S. through celebrity impersonation schemes.
  • A recent report found that 72% of people in the U.S. have seen a celebrity impersonation scam, and 10% have lost money or data as a result.

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 also been exploited by scammers.

Johnny Depp

A renowned American actor whose identity has been used by scammers to target victims.

Dana

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

Mark Schneider

The CIO of NextGen in Newport, a company that tracks cybersecurity activity related to these types of scams.

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What they’re saying

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

— Mark Schneider, CIO, NextGen (WLWT News Five)

“It was very easy. I mean, this person had a lot of Mr. Moore's information, and scammers ramp up the use of celebrity names to get an audience with anyone willing to take a seat in their theater of deception.”

— Dana (WLWT News Five)

What’s next

Experts recommend that people be extremely cautious when contacted by anyone claiming to be a celebrity, even if the communication seems legitimate. It's important to verify the identity through official channels before engaging further or providing any personal or financial information.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the growing threat of AI-powered impersonation scams that can have devastating financial and emotional consequences for victims. Greater public awareness and education, as well as stronger regulatory measures, are needed to combat this emerging form of cybercrime.