Johnny Depp, Kelly Rowland and Reba warn fans about AI scammers

16 hrs ago

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Zachary Hill (Video Editor)

Scammers are posing as celebrities to trick fans out of their money. Johnny Depp, Kelly Rowland and Reba McEntire have recently warned their supporters about the alarming trend.

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Stars are urging fans to stay vigilant, especially as scammers use advanced technology and artificial intelligence to make their impersonations more convincing.

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Johnny Depp issues warning

Depp took to Instagram on Monday, Jan. 6 with a detailed warning for his fans. He emphasized that his official Instagram account is his only social media presence.

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A post shared by Johnny Depp (@johnnydepp)

Depp stated he’s not on platforms like X, Snapchat, or Discord. Likewise, he said he doesn’t offer paid fan meetings, club memberships, or fan cards—opportunities scammers attempt to leverage for money.

“Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice,” Depp said in his post. “Scammers may look and sound just like the real me. But neither I, nor my team, will ask you for money or your personal information.”

Depp says his team is “actively working to combat these illicit schemes.”

Kelly Rowland fan targeted by impersonator

Singer and actress Kelly Rowland also shared a warning after facing a similar issue. Someone using the Instagram handle @iam.kellyrowland without a profile picture messaged a fan claiming they lost their credit card and needed money for a plane ticket to perform in the fan’s city.

The scammer followed up with another message, claiming to be Beyoncé.

Reba McEntire urges fans to be cautious

Last November, McEntire shared her own warning on Instagram. She stressed that neither she nor her team would ever contact fans via direct message or phone to solicit money.

McEntire urged her followers to protect themselves online and be wary of scammers attempting to exploit their admiration for her.

How to spot a scam

When it comes to online scams, there are clear red flags to watch for:

Verify the account: Look beyond the blue checkmark. Check the account’s post history, follower count and activity to ensure authenticity.

Be wary of urgent requests: Celebrities won’t ask for money or personal information through direct messages.

Look out for odd spelling and grammar: Many scams contain typos or awkward phrasing, like the scammer who misspelled “plane” in messages pretending to be Rowland.

Check website URLs: Always inspect links before clicking. Watch for subtle misspellings or unfamiliar domains.

Tags: Discord, Instagram, scams, Social Media, X

[KENNEDY FELTON]

Think you’ve got a message from your favorite celeb? Think again!

Stars are sounding the alarm on scammers stealing their spotlight – and your cash.

Johnny Depp took to Instagram Monday for a lengthy post saying scammers have stepped it up in their efforts to target his supporters. He reminded followers that his Instagram is his only account.

Depp says he isn’t on platforms like X, Snapchat, or Discord – and that he doesn’t offer paid fan meetings, club memberships, or fan cards.

Adding in – “Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice. Scammers may look and sound just like the real me. But, neither I, nor my team, will ask you for money or your personal information.”

He isn’t alone. Something similar recently happened to singer and actress Kelly Rowland.

When someone posing as Rowland using the handle “I Am Kelly Rowland” with no profile picture asked a fan for money – claiming they lost their credit card and needed a plane ticket to perform in their city. In another message, they even claimed to be Beyoncé.

And last November, Reba McEntire posted a message to Instagram urging fans to protect themselves online, stressing neither she nor her team would ever ask for money through direct messages or cell phone numbers.

So when it comes to online scams – what are some of the things to look out for?

Verify the account – look for more than just the blue verification checkmark. Cross-check the account’s post history, follower count, and activity. Be wary of urgent requests – celebrities won’t suddenly ask for money or personal info. Look out for odd spelling and grammar – many scam messages contain typos or awkward phrasing, like the scammer impersonating Kelly Rowland spelling “plane” incorrectly. And check any website URLs before clicking them by checking for subtle misspellings or unfamiliar domains.

As for Johnny Depp – he says his team is actively working to combat these schemes. And in the meantime, stay vigilant and keep yourself safe on the web.