Michigan AG warns of scammers impersonating Kid Rock, Garth Brooks and other celebrities | #celebrity | #romance | #romancescams

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is warning residents about an increase in celebrity impersonation scams.

The scammers use a variety of tactics to steal money from victims while impersonating celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Garth Brooks, Kid Rock, military leaders, including former and active 4-star generals and other well-known people.

“While it may be disappointing to hear, you are probably not in a secret, long-distance relationship with Garth Brooks,” Nessel said. “Scammers are constantly coming up with elaborate schemes to steal your money and may be posing as celebrities or public officials. If someone claiming to be Garth or any other famous figure is asking you personally for money, don’t send it. It’s almost certainly a scam.”

Some of the commonly reported schemes include romance scams, cryptocurrency or “pig butchering” scams and merchandise scams.

With romance scams, victims believe they’re in an online relationship with a well-known figure, and it can often involve requests for money.

Scammers typically find victims who are looking for partners on dating sites and social media. They often profess their love for the victim quickly and then claim that they can’t meet in person because they are a celebrity.

Some scammers also create deepfake audio and videos of well-known people to make it seem like the celebrity is in distress or to have them make urgent demands for money.

Merchandise scams involve a scammer posing as a celebrity and asking the victim to purchase exclusive merchandise, while pig butchering scams involve fake cryptocurrency or business investment opportunities that are endorsed by a celebrity.

Nessel said common signs of these scams include the following:

• High-pressure tactics to act immediately.

• Use of fear or enticing offers.

• Demands for sensitive information or unusual payment methods.

The attorney general also shared the following tips to avoid romance and pig butchering scams:

• Never agree to open a bank account or re-ship goods sent to you.

• Do not send money, prepaid gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency to someone you met online.

• Communicate only through the specific app and avoid giving out personal phone numbers or email addresses.

• Slow down and talk to someone you trust before responding if someone appears on your social media and rushes you to start a friendship or romance.

• Don’t send money, trade, or invest with a person you have only met online.

• Don’t speak of your financial position or investments with strangers online.

• Don’t share personal information or current financial status with strangers.

• Don’t provide your banking information, social security number, copies of your identification or passport, or any other sensitive information to anyone online or to a site that you cannot verify is authentic.

• Be cautious of individuals who claim to have exclusive investment opportunities and urge you to act fast.

Nessel and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently talked about how seniors are being targeted by pig butchering scams on their “Pantsuits and Lawsuits” podcast.

Alex Juarez and Mark Fetterhoff of AARP joined them to talk about how residents can look out for these types of scams. They also talked about the AARP ElderWatch program, which offers seniors assistance if they are a victim of a scam and general financial help.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of a celebrity impersonation scam can submit an online complaint form, call 877-765-8388 or send a complaint to the Consumer Protection Team at P.O. Box 30213, Lansing, MI 48909.