STATEWIDE (WGME) — If you get a message from your favorite musician or movie star, you should be skeptical, not star struck.
AARP Maine warns it’s usually a scam and one that seems to be circulating a lot.
From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, social media gives us a glimpse into the lives of celebrities and a way to connect.
“It would be so exciting to hear from someone you really admire,” Jane Margesson from AARP Maine said.
Whether you get a direct message or e-mail, Margesson says it’s mostly likely not coming from that celebrity and instead scammers who’ve created a bogus account.
“They may be inviting you to a special VIP concert,” Margesson said. “Or they may be possibly raising lots of money for a special charity.”
Maine’s very own Patrick Dempsey is one of the celebrities who has warned fans about impersonators asking for money. As he pointed out back in 2018, his real accounts come with a blue check mark.
“If there is no check mark, no blue, little circle there, that’s a sure sign of trouble,” Margesson said.
She says consumers should also keep an eye out for misspellings and do an internet search right away.
“Look up the celebrity in question with the word ‘scam’ and see if, in fact, there’s something circulating,” Margesson said.
Scammers like to tug at the heart strings, so if they’re asking for donations to a charity, you should also check Charity Navigator to make sure it’s the real deal.
“It’s human nature to want to help, and scammers, unfortunately, that’s what they really want to exploit,” Margesson said.
If you do get a message from a celebrity impersonator, you should tell your friends and family, spread the word on social media as much as possible and notify the Federal Trade Commission.
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