Famous (ish) person messaging me

[Cat2014]

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?

In scam terms you are a known mark

Yep, be aware that you are now more likely to be approached again by this person in a different guise or as a result of your data (as a possible target) being shared
Keep in mind the signs to look out for!

Well if they’re not ok with me sending to official channels then it’s obviously a scam. That’s what I meant not that I’m asking permission
As for the rest of the post, thanks I’m not absolutely thick no need for dear god

@Cat2014 With the greatest of respect, you are totally coming across as someone who is in the process of falling for a scam and deluding themselves. So I do think dear god was warranted even if only to get you to pay attention.

Firstly you claim you would be able to tell from a voice note if it was them. This is idiocy because as set out in the links I posted even live video calls are known scams. Voices are even easier to replicate by computer now for fraudsters investing in their fraud.

Secondly you say 'if they’re not ok with me sending to official channels then it’s obviously a scam.' is also, I am afraid, pretty 'thick' to use your words. These people work by long term grooming. If you suggest you are going to send it by official channels, one response would be to try to deter you. But another equally legitimate and probably better response would be to encourage you - to reassure you that they were legitimate - with an eye to reassuring you so that you are more open to the next scam.

It is very very naive to think that just because they acceded to that small donation going via official channels it follows it is not a scam.

You do seem very blinkered here and shockingly unworldly - despite what everyone has said up thread weren't really listening to what you are being told.

I've seen your post that 'it's all sorted' so I hope that means you are no longer engaging with this. If so, well done.

One clear red flag which you missed at the start was a person contacting you, asking questions about yourself and immediately showing great interest in your life.
You were led very quickly into a false intimacy.

Suddenly getting multiple messages a day ( How are you this morning? popping up every day) should set off alarm bells.

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.

Oh no! This is such a scam, and right from the beginning leading you into false security. You said you struggled with confidence, and they have picked up on this.

Wish well, but don't get involved anymore. Protect yourself.

The person didn’t contact me first. I contacted them first and they helped me with something

Oh OP! PLEASE wise up.😬

I promise, it’s not the same as this

Please google Catfish on YouTube and watch their videos on romance (and other) scams. Whatever you do, don’t send or receive any money. Don’t lend them money which they want to pay back later, don’t send them gift cards, don’t make transactions of their own funds for them (these scammers use all kinds of tricks nowadays). The only way to be certain who you’re speaking to is a long video call (not a short recorded clip, that can be a deep fake) or a face to face meeting (at a public place where you are safe).

Why do you think I haven’t listened?
also I won’t be sending any money to this person regardless of what they ask me, I was never going to.

Not sending money to the person!

Thanks, this is useful info to be aware of

Sounds like a scam!!

The initial contact (initiated by you) on the influencer’s public page was likely genuine.

But to then be approached/asked to move to a private chat to get to know each other was likely not.

People trawl public forums to target fans in this way, posing as the “celebrity”

I think you’ve taken the advice on board and I’d like to say how sorry I am this has happened. You sound like a kind person and it must feel very unsettling and upsetting.

Theres no reason not to continue following this particular influencer on their public page.
You will probably feel better if you can report this and warn other fans.

Looks like a scam. Smells like a scam. Sounds like a scam. Is a scam. Please avoid. At all costs. No good can come of this.

I am sorry this happened to you. It must feel like you’ve lost someone you thought was a friend x

Every week on Facebook I get messages from The Rock, Tom Cruise and some American chap called Bam Margera, all professing to be the genuine person!

Oh and I also get a lot of fake profiles of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, messaging me!

Of course they aren't!

My husband gets lots of fake profiles using photos of Demi Rose!

We are both a pair of old gimmers!

If you have any doubt, simply say that because they are famous and there are a lot of fake profiles can they confirm it's genuinely them.

A genuine person wouldn't offended.

Don't be jealous of me but Russell Crow has messaged me a few time saying how since I am his biggest fan he'd like to get to know me better. I think at mist I have seen 2 of his movies 😆

Sorry OP but recently I watched a programme where a lady was being catfished but someone she believed was famous. Really famous. In the papers, dating a famous lady. But the scammer was so convincing and seemed to know specific details and convinced the lady he was the real deal. Even when she confronted him about his relationship he said it was just for show and they are both just doing it for the press attention. Obviously turned out to be a clever faker. I wish I could remember the programme for you to see if it's familiar. Sorry x

Owen Wilson, the Hollywood actor, started following me on Instagram. I followed him back out of curiosity, then blocked him 30 seconds later when he sent me two pervy messages asking what my fantasies were and could I describe them to him, followed by another message with just ????? because I hadn't replied.

Shame really, because I quite like some of his stuff.

And if he was the real actor, then I am Debbie Harry.

I forgot to mention. I commented on a very famous boy band from my childhood. Guess what a very legit looking profile of one the singers messaged me! Haha. Blocked, it's never really them.

It's not unheard of for celebs to message fans (or have their team message) for various reasons. A lot of male celebs use social media for hookups. Taylor Swift is famous for interacting with her fanbase a lot.

But yeah, no legit person would ever ask you for money. This absolutely screams scam.

You can tell us who it is now you know it’s fake! 😄

Avoid

Was the guy from Stranger Things? I think I saw the same thing. The woman left her husband for him 😱