Most world-famous personalities are very active online. Especially on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. Unfortunately, that makes them particularly useful as subjects of celebrity coronavirus scams.
Way back when a coronavirus caused an epidemic in China. At first, some people worried about the possibility of it spreading to other parts of the world. Fast forward just a couple months and those innocent days seem like a lifetime ago. The worldwide disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic threw every human endeavor into disarray. And that proved to be an irresistible opportunity for every kind of scammer under the sun.
Why? First, the pandemic forced millions of people to months of confinement indoors. And many of them lost a reliable source of income. They worried about their health, their families and their financial future. It was only natural that the reassuring face or voice of a trusted and known person — a celebrity — was what it took to help them find the comfort and trust that they needed to make what they hoped were the right decisions.
Celebrities Can Also Be Victims of Celebrity Coronavirus Scams
And in far too many cases, unscrupulous people have taken advantage of that trust. Sometimes the scammers have been the celebrities themselves. But more often it’s some anonymous criminal hiding behind the famous face. In a few cases, celebrities are also victims of celebrity coronavirus scams.
Some social media celebrities are barely known to the outside world, but are highly influential within their particular niche. These “influencers” may come from the world of fashion, music, finance, or almost anything else. One example is Jeffree Star, a woman who runs a major cosmetics company. She also maintains a significant YouTube presence as part of her business strategy. Star recently ran a promotional money giveaway that hackers targeted. Scammers then sent out phishing messages ostensibly from Star. But it was just a plot to enable them to steal her fans’ money.
Different Sorts of Celebrities
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is a very different sort of celebrity. The pandemic forced every government in the world to scramble to keep its economy functioning amid financial uncertainty. In contrast, under Kim’s enigmatic leadership, the secretive communist state took a unique approach. According to reports, Kim used his shadowy technology agencies to engage in a flood of cybercrime. In particular, a rash of bitcoin theft.
The worst kinds of celebrity scams, however, con innocent fans out of their money or personal information. And they do that by forging celebrity endorsements or promotions. Over the past few months, for example, Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, Presidents Trump and Obama, and many others have had their names and identities attached to phony campaigns designed to scam fans and followers.
Celebrity Coronavirus Conspiracies
It’s particularly disappointing, however, when real celebrities knowingly promote scams. Some their names to celebrity coronavirus scams for personal gain. Others do it out of a misguided belief that it’s all legitimate. An example of the latter is the wild conspiracy theory that 5G networks spread the coronavirus. That’s preposterous, but it’s an idea that got a boost from none other than actor Woody Harrelson. More insidious is the case of disgraced televangelist Jim Bakker selling a phony COVID-19 remedy.
MyChargeBack has been seeing a huge uptick in inquiries regarding scams and refunds in light of the coronavirus pandemic. If you are having trouble getting your money back, contact us today for a free consultation.
