In an alarming trend, victims are losing billions to celebrity romance scams, with reports indicating that Americans alone lost $672 million to such schemes in 2024. One particularly heart-wrenching case involves a woman named Margaret, who believed she was embarking on a romantic relationship with actor Kevin Costner. Before realizing the deception, she had wired over $100,000 in bitcoin to someone impersonating the star.
Margaret, a 73-year-old retired office manager and TED Talk speaker, had left her husband of ten years and packed her belongings, convinced that she was about to join Costner in his new production venture. Instead, she received a message claiming that he had been in a car accident, accompanied by a photo of a wrecked vehicle. The reality was far more sinister: there was no accident, and there was no Costner.
The Mechanics of Celebrity Romance Scams
The rise of digital deception has created a booming industry that exploits the emotional vulnerability of individuals, particularly older adults. Scammers often impersonate well-known figures, preying on the parasocial relationships that many people form with celebrities. Older women like Margaret are often targeted, as they may be more susceptible to these fraudulent advances.
Scammers frequently use social media platforms, which have been criticized for their inadequate protections against such fraudulent activities. Rebecca Keegan of the Hollywood Reporter highlights that these scams typically begin with emotional manipulation, introducing fake family members and even spiritual connections to isolate victims from their support networks.
Once a person has fallen victim to a scam, their contact information is often sold to other fraudsters, making them repeat targets. Keegan’s investigation involved creating a fake persona named Linda, a 65-year-old widow. Within a short time, she received messages from multiple impersonators claiming to be stars like Keanu Reeves and Costner, showcasing the alarming speed and prevalence of these scams.
Celebrity Responses and Ongoing Challenges
Many celebrities are aware that their likenesses are being exploited for scams. For instance, Keanu Reeves has taken measures to combat impersonation. He employs a company called Loti to track and remove fraudulent accounts. In the past year, Loti has issued nearly 40,000 takedown orders against impersonators of Reeves. Despite these efforts, the problem persists, as social media companies often take days or weeks to respond to reports of fraud.
Unfortunately, Margaret’s story does not conclude on a hopeful note. After her experience with Costner, new impostors have approached her, and she now believes she is in a relationship with Jonathan Roumie, an actor known for his portrayal of Jesus in the series The Chosen. Her family struggles to reach her, as the deception runs deep, reflecting a broader issue where many individuals find themselves ensnared in similar cycles of manipulation.
The rise of celebrity romance scams highlights a pressing need for increased awareness and protective measures across social media platforms. As technology evolves, so too does the sophistication of these scams, making it essential for users to remain vigilant against potential fraud.
