Romance scams are changing- and one of the most concerning is the increase of celebrity ‘face-swap’ impersonation scams. Recent UK statistics indicate that victims lost over £30 million in 2021, an increase of 79% from the previous year. At Lycan Retrieve we have seen a concerning number of victims fall victim to these quickly evolving and more sophisticated scams.
What Are Celebrity Romance Scams?
Romance scams start with emotional manipulation. The scammer establishes trust over a period of time, often pretending to be a lonely celebrity or high-ranking professional. Once the victim is emotionally invested, they ask for urgent financial help towards, for example, medical bills or legal issues.
Deepfakes & Filters: The New Threat
Scammers are using a new tool: deepfake technology or celebrity filters, to impersonate famous people in short video calls. The short, glitchy video calls seem extremely ‘realistic’ – especially when the scammer is posing as someone who is assisting the celebrity or their business manager to set up the interaction.
Accounts from victims suggest that they have seen videos of Jason Statham, Paul Hollywood, or Scarlett Johansson, then later found out they were duped into believing the person they were dealing with was using bought deepfake technology and video manipulation tools.
How to Protect Yourself.
- Do a Reverse Image Search on any photo sent to you.
- Notice how quickly someone wants to move your conversation from a dating platform to WhatsApp or SMS.
- Be aware of love bombing. If someone is expressing feelings too quickly, it could be a red flag.
- Insist on a clear video call. If someone appears to make an excuse, or there happen to be interruptions that stop the video platform or any sort of video confirming that this has not been manipulated – these are common forms of deception.
- Never ship money to a person you have never met face-to-face.
Should you or someone you know, have been influenced by a romance or impersonation scam, Lycan Retrieve can offer advice and assistance to recovery funds. Please stay vigilant and informed.
Have You Fallen Victim to a Scam?
Whether it’s a cryptocurrency fraud, fake investment scheme, phishing attack, or online impersonation, you are not alone and you can take action.
At Lycan Retrieve, we specialize in helping scam victims reclaim what’s rightfully theirs. Our team understands the emotional and financial toll scams can take, and we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Contact us for a free consultation
Let us help you regain control, restore your confidence, and pursue justice.
Don’t wait-protect your future and fight back against fraud.
Contact Lycan Retrieve today.
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