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FBI Warns of $12M in Music Industry Romance Scams
Criminals impersonating musicians stole millions from fans and industry professionals across the country.
Apr. 6, 2026 at 3:51pm
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A harsh, gritty close-up of a damaged device symbolizes the vulnerability of music fans and industry professionals to online fraud schemes.Today in NashvilleThe FBI Nashville Division has issued a warning about a wave of fraud schemes targeting the music industry, including over $12 million stolen from more than 500 fans in romance scams where criminals impersonated musicians. The bureau also reported losses from data breaches, extortion attempts, and non-delivery scams affecting both fans and industry professionals.
Why it matters
These scams have had a significant financial impact on both music fans and industry professionals, exposing vulnerabilities in the industry's online presence and connections. The FBI's warning aims to raise awareness and help protect the public from these predatory schemes.
The details
According to the FBI, the $12.28 million stolen from 527 fans through romance scams made up the bulk of the $13.4 million total losses reported. Scammers also targeted 107 music industry professionals, including musicians, record label owners, producers, and managers, stealing $777,063. Additional complaints involved data breaches, extortion, and non-delivery scams related to tickets, merchandise, and meet-and-greets.
- Between January 2024 and September 2025, the FBI received the complaints related to these scams.
The players
FBI Nashville Division
The local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that issued the warning about the music industry fraud schemes.
Terence G. Reilly
The special agent in charge of the FBI Nashville Division who urged the public to be cautious of high-pressure tactics used by scammers.
What they’re saying
“A review of complaints submitted to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), along with our pending investigations, has identified clear trends in the tactics criminals are using to target employees in the music industry and fans alike. We urge everyone to pause before taking action and to be wary of high-pressure tactics used by scammers.”
— Terence G. Reilly, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Nashville Division
What’s next
The FBI is encouraging anyone who has been a victim of these scams to report the incident to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov.
The takeaway
These scams targeting the music industry highlight the need for heightened cybersecurity awareness and caution when engaging with strangers online, especially when it comes to financial transactions or sensitive information. Music fans and professionals alike must remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to these predatory schemes.
