Beware of celebrity impersonators, product endorsements
By Jeremy Rodriguez
You get a surprise message from George Clooney in your inbox. Since you’re a big fan, he is sending you a message from his private social media account to give you a roundtrip ticket to his movie premiere. However, there are some stipulations. For example, you may need to wire him money for your airfare, so the trip is booked in your name. But he promises to reimburse you the cost. He may be asking for money to donate to his charity. Perhaps, he says he doesn’t have access to his funds and needs help paying for an emergency expense.
Messages like this may seem like an obvious scam to some people, but celebrity imposters send thousands of messages out to potential victims with the hopes of fooling at least one person. The truth is that George Clooney, or any other well-known celebrity, does not need to ask anyone for money, especially not a stranger. If you are communicating with someone online who claims to be a celebrity, it is most likely a scammer.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends pausing first before sending any money to anyone. Talk to someone you trust first. Additionally, do some research into any potential charities you would like to support. Furthermore, never send personal information, money or gift cards to someone you have not met in person.
You should also report these con artists to the social media platform through which you were contacted and to the FTC at 1- 877-382-4357 or ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Impersonator scams can also include fraudulent sales of products using a well-known person’s name, photo or likeness. Companies may try to sell products, such as premium cookware or weight-loss pills, by stating that they are endorsed by a high-profile celebrity. If you see something like this, the FTC recommends researching the product and company to verify its authenticity prior to making an online purchase.
Resist the urge to act quickly on a purchase labeled as a “limited-time offer” or any other pressure-based sales tactic. Scammers don’t want you to take time to do research or think before making purchases.
To help you determine whether a product is actually celebrity-endorsed, the FTC recommends the following:
- Approach celebrity testimonials with caution. Look for product reviews on your own. Search for the product online using the words “scam” or “review” to see what others are saying about the product.
- Go directly to the source. Don’t click on a link or ad.
- Don’t trust miraculous claims. The government doesn’t approve or evaluate supplements and vitamins for safety or effectiveness before they’re put on the market. Your health care professional is the most important person to ask whether a supplement is safe for you. Even a natural supplement can be risky depending on your health and the medicines you take. Learn more about common health scams at ftc.gov/MiracleHealth.
Jeremy Rodriguez is a freelance journalist, blogger, editor and podcaster.
