Celebrities Impersonated by AI Scammers

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is Cory with the Story with Entertainment and Celebrity News today. Scammers are using artificial intelligence to impersonate big-name actors and trick fans out of huge sums of money. They pose as stars like Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, and Kiana Reeves, often starting with romantic messages or urgent pleas for cash. Victims have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in these schemes, which spread fast on social media. These frauds get sophisticated with fake photos, voices, and even documents like driver's licenses to build trust. One common trick involves claims of medical emergencies, like cancer treatments, or promises of romance leading to requests for loans or gifts. The scammers rarely meet in person and vanish after getting the funds. Fans hit hardest include widows, lonely seniors, and hopeful romantics, who ignore red flags like poor grammar or odd stories. Losses range from a few thousand dollars for outfits and travel to life savings that lead people homeless or living in cars.

1:06Many only realize the scam after it's too late. The actors themselves have spoken out repeatedly, stressing they don't use social media for personal chats or money asks. Their teams push public service messages to warn followers, and some posts urge reporting suspicious contacts right away. Stay sharp online folks. Real celebrities won't hit you up for cash or secrets. If it sounds too good or too desperate to be true, it probably is. Keep your money safe and double check before you send a dime.