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Famous (ish) person messaging me

296 replies

Cat2014 · 23/09/2023 23:48

I have been chatting to someone who is kind of famous not like seriously film actor famous but social influencer. For a worth while cause , loads of followers and been in the news a lot fairly recently etc.
They have added me to a personal chat and we have been messaging and I think getting closer. I however keep thinking is this actually them? Could it be a member of their ‘staff’ just messing about? How can I trust that their messages are real?

I really like this person and I’m worried in case I’m being duped or something. Has anyone got any advice?

OP posts:
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GingersOwner26 · 25/09/2023 21:56

My ex once got contacted allegedly by the actor Stephen Amell claiming to be offering him a job writing scripts for his show Arrow. I called it from Day One that he was really talking to Stephen SCAMell - why would the lead actor be handling the hiring of writers himself, without any involvement from the actual production team? Why would he do it by messaging strangers on Facebook after two minutes of conversation - how could he know from that if my ex could even write?

My ex was having none of it when I tried to bring up the possibility of a scammer, sending me screenshots of the conversation to try and convince me. If anything, I was even more convinced it was a scammer, because Mr. SCAMell was asking for iTunes cards. The problem was, the weekend in question, the real Stephen Amell had tweeted a rant at Bank of America because he was having problems using his credit card in Istanbul, so my ex thought he was genuinely in need of funds, and he sent the cards. It didn't matter what I tried to say, he wouldn't believe me.

He got to the stage where he stopped telling me about the scammer. I was trying to find the profile in the hope of getting it taken down, told him I'd reported a few fakes - he thought that the ones I reported were fakes but he was talking to the real one, and repeated this to the scammer. Mr. SCAMell said something like "haha I'm aware of the situation, but thank you for letting me know" - however, he didn't like the fact that I was looking for these profiles, because he then told my ex that I was only saying he was a scammer because I didn't want my ex to succeed.

It escalated to the point where I had my ex panicking at me because he had waited in all day for a package containing a contract, a script for Arrow, and diamonds (?) which Mr. SCAMell wanted my ex to look after for him, and the parcel had got stuck in Thailand until he paid an excessive amount of money to customs. The scammer had sent a badly photoshopped invoice which was about as convincing as something my then-two year old niece could have produced with some paper and crayons. He was all set to ask his family for a loan until I talked him down.

I thought I'd got through to him that it was a scam. Unfortunately, the comments about me not wanting him to succeed stuck with him, and for ages afterwards he was (probably still is) convinced the dude was genuine and I stopped the job offer because I didn't want to be left behind while he made it big. Arrow used to have special episodes at Christmas, and when that year's aired he kept going on about what if that was the script he was meant to write. While there was more to it, it was the beginning of the end.

Best thing to do is stop engaging with whoever this is.

Ashtara10 · 25/09/2023 22:03

Have they done/doing a long walk?

Oioicaptain · 25/09/2023 22:10

Is it Russell Brand?? If so, do not open any attachments!

Scotland32 · 25/09/2023 22:28

More than likely a catfish I would say. Proceed with caution.

Pepfaz · 25/09/2023 22:35

Oh yhh loool

LaundryandDirt · 25/09/2023 22:36

Some very mean comments here. Sorry your short lived little bubble of possibilities were popped. Can’t feel nice 🙁

PyongyangKipperbang · 25/09/2023 22:53

PollyAmour · 24/09/2023 15:10

This reminds me of the episode of Catfish, where the man genuinely believed he was in an online relationship with Katy Perry. Even when Katy Perry herself said it wasn't her, and Nev and Max found out it was an obese housebound older woman, the man still wasn't convinced he'd been duped.

It was very sad.

Someone I know is in this right now. He will not listen to reason. Has lost his wife and family, his friends are all trying to help him see sense but he has had some sort of breakdown we think.

In his case it is Selena Gomez and he has sent ££££.....we all know how hard up she must be..... Lots of daft things like she was due in the UK to see him (to stay in his mums back bedroom since his wife kicked him out) but couldnt because "She had to work". She is a massive star, not me getting called in for a last minute shift to cover sickness at the Co-op, but he wont have it! Oh and when Taylor Swift started sending him nudes (got his number from Selena) he told her back off and have respect for his relationship with Selena.

But this isnt on TV. Its happening right now. Its absolutely tragic and when he finally gets dumped by "Selena" because he has run out of money, he is going to crash hard. Personally I think that he does suspect but needs the fantasy for some reason and also is desperately hanging on to the vain hope that it might be true as he will feel like ten types of twat admitting he has been taken. Its like watching a slow motion car crash that you are powerless to stop.

justasking111 · 25/09/2023 23:25

Graciebobcat · 25/09/2023 13:16

I follow one famous actor on Insta and have recently had three follow requests from accounts using his image and a very similar username. I think it's just an attempt to gain access to personal information and wonder how many people just accept, delighted, without looking properly.

I had this with an actor I followed because of the Amazon Prime series. I just wanted to know about the show. Suddenly I started getting messages from him personally all very dodgy I thought so I blocked.

burgundytoday · 25/09/2023 23:29

Janieforever · 25/09/2023 14:43

I’m not sure anyone would class ed Sheeran as a not very famous social influencer 😂

I don't know why that post made me laugh so much (in a good way). Of course they'd be polite, they'd hardly message you in (not so famous social influencer) Ed Sheeran's guise going "hey ya fucker" or the like

bellabelly · 25/09/2023 23:31

Just in case nobody's already mentioned this book... all about this kind of thing - I follow her on twitter and the scams are v obvious and her responses really make me laugh. But it's not funny really, how many other women get taken in by these scammers.

pollymere · 25/09/2023 23:32

I went to school with the sibling of a famous person. I know they never contact anyone directly for their own safety - it's all done through their agent.

I'm friends with some vaguely famous type people who might let me contact them directly on FB but most of them I knew beforehand.

With an influencer, it's tricky. I've emailed someone who makes videos and they messaged me back. I'm also loosely friends with Trisha Ashley on FB. I think just be careful as you are being and keep chatting. If it's a scammer the request for money usually comes pretty quickly.

I once told a scammer that if DPD wanted money from me for them to collect an item, they were being scammed as I've had loads of collections from DPD before 😂

PenisButterOnMyCuttedUpPear · 25/09/2023 23:32

YABVVVU to not tell us who it is! 😀

xxWelsh · 25/09/2023 23:32

@Cat2014 james Arthur asked me out on a date once (of course I never believed it and played along) turns out it was someone from a foreign country trying to scam TF outta me!

BLOCK AND RUUUNNN!!

GingersOwner26 · 25/09/2023 23:33

Anotherusername543212 · 24/09/2023 08:58

Yesusuyssuysys it ye it seusuysutsuas it ussusuausussuuswweuyyiasuesuyysyussusereeeeetewtateestestestestwtweststeeeeeeesteeeeststst

Pardon?

RichardsGear · 25/09/2023 23:44

Niall Harbison??? The man who loved Tina like he did wouldn't stoop so low. Got to be a scam.

Private1980 · 25/09/2023 23:51

Why not get ya face on and facetime and it sounds like your just putting yourself down if it is the real them and they see the real you and they don't speak again then it's there loss and someone else's gain belive in yourself what have you got to lose be you life's no guarantee for any of us everything could change in a day take risk f##k it your only here once

MaryLea · 26/09/2023 00:43

I don't know why people are all 'wtf' and 'dear Godding' you. You very sensibly listened to the tiny doubt, examined the evidence, and when you realised what was happening you cut the cord. It's not your fault people are deceptive bastards. I know it must hurt to realise you were tricked, but you didn't fall for the scam, didn't give them money, and at least time they wasted trying to scam you was time they weren't scamming someone who might have fallen for it. Also, I'm sure you're better prepared should anything like this happen again.
But I am sorry for how you've been spoken to on this thread. You did the right thing.

chaosmaker · 26/09/2023 00:43

@Cat2014 Cool that they helped with the thing you asked for help with but with anything online, there is a lot of jiggery pokery that can take place. Also anyone can be hacked etc. There is a charming scandal from Asia called the Pig Butchering Scam. Also they might be asking for information for some other influencer type thingy.
Hopefully it is all innocent and they are genuine for your sake. I'd just face time. They won't care what you look like.

Sugarandbread · 26/09/2023 01:26

My friend is a Social Media Manager and does a lot of freelance work for popular Instagram influencers. She does anything from growing their clientele by marketing, social media posts, and even goes as far as engaging with followers by DM or responds to comments as though she is the person (with their consent).

She usually will make a brief file on anyone she engages with and will send it to the influencer before any group Zoom calls or meetings so they’re aware they were “talking” to a specific person and about what, and they’ll basically have this “cheat sheet” with them so no one catches on!

It’s insane! It’s definitely made me more skeptical about messaging anyone for advise. My friends clientele ranges from 5,000 followers up to 100,000 - and they all pay for the exact same service, even the less known influencers.

LalaPaloosa · 26/09/2023 03:04

I’ve had Kevin Costner, Johnny Depp, Elon Musk and Reece Witherspoon all reach out to me on Instagram… clearly the people behind the fake profiles were scammers. Fake Elon even sent pre recorded messages that were clearly cobbled together from various public speeches or statements. Honestly, there are so many frauds and scams out there. Please don’t assume anyone you meet online is real until you sit across from them in a public place.

Mrsmulhern · 26/09/2023 03:08

Has he asked you your mothers maiden name or first pet name in conversation yet?!

Going by your posts (not wanting to show face) etc you seem the perfect person for this kind of thing.

FaceTime or assume it’s a scam.

inappropriateraspberry · 26/09/2023 03:12

https://youtube.com/@CatfishedOnlinee*?si=zATVQf2oxCazbgg_

Check out this channel, what you are experiencing is classic carfishing.

Goldflap · 26/09/2023 05:35

I think a PP might be onto something when they said it might be the genuine person actually scamming, influencers are by their very nature grifters trying to monetise interactions this is just more personal.

People seem to have totally dismissed what the OP has actually said, she messaged the verified person initially and they responded it wasn't a random spam message to her that everyone gets and how can you explain the messages asking to speak on a private account coming via the same verified message account.

Either way you are correct OP that this not right and you need to step away, as others have said saying you will donate via official channels will just give them the opportunity to gain your trust further till the next time.

To people that find it hilarious that someone might believe a 'celebrity' might private message, they get bored and have huge egos too, Greg Wallace met his wife on SM and for Jason Mansford and several other serial cheats it's their well documented MO.

People buzz their brains out if someone mildly famous engages with them online liking a post for example so imagine the power they can wield and the buzz that gives.

Dismissing it with'I have watched a tv show about this it's definitely a scam and you must be an idiot/ lonely/ vulnerable' is a bit condescending as scams can take many forms and reel in anyone.

Taylorscat · 26/09/2023 06:48

@Goldflap well said I completely agree

Taylorscat · 26/09/2023 06:54

Also no-one is perfect. The guy could be completely genuine about what he does - but it doesn’t mean he’s not all about the money to support what he does. I suspect at some point all this will come out and he’ll have an epic fall - I do hope it’s a scammer instead but remember that on social this is a largely unregulated world - in the UK there are strict rules about charities and trustees and monitoring of funds - an influencer sets up something and there’s none of that.

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