Greg's Corner

Celebrity romance scam victim accused of poisoning husband at direction of scammer

By Greg Collier

One version of the romance scam we don’t talk enough about is when the scammers pose as a celebrity.

Scammers create a fake profile on social media or dating websites, using the name, photos, and other information of a popular celebrity. They may also use stolen images from the internet to make the profile appear more convincing.

The scammer initiates contact with potential victims, often reaching out to them via direct messages, comments, or friend requests. They may use flattering language and compliments to make the target feel special.

The scammer invests time in building a virtual relationship with the victim. They may engage in conversations, share personal stories, and express romantic interest to create a sense of emotional connection.

At some point, the scammer introduces a fabricated crisis or urgent situation that requires financial assistance. This could be a medical emergency, legal trouble, or any other scenario designed to evoke sympathy and a desire to help.

However, there’s at least one scammer out there who has no compunction about asking his victims to kill.

This scammer posed as a 57-year-old soap opera star, and targeted a 64-year-old married woman. There aren’t many details on how the scam was perpetrated in this instance, but what is known is the victim did give $8000 to the scammer. Apparently, that was not enough money for the scammer.

Last month, the woman’s 73-year-old husband was rushed to the hospital with an unknown ailment. While at the hospital, the couple’s daughter noticed strange messages on her mother’s phone that appeared to come from the soap opera actor.

The message from the scammer that allegedly started this whole incident read, “You have to get rid of your husband honey. I need you so much.” The woman replied that she would be making soup for her husband that would be a special recipe. After her husband was taken to the ER, she sent another message stating that her husband wasn’t feeling well, and maybe she could collect a life insurance payout. The scammer asked her when would that be.

If it wasn’t for their daughter, the husband may have been murdered at the behest of a scammer. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending in this story, since the wife has been charged with attempted murder.

While often romance scam stories are dismissed as gossip and sensationalism, they can have grave repercussions. Romance scams affect both men and women, and have victimized people from every walk of life. It can affect people who are living paycheck to paycheck, and all the way up the corporate chain to CEOs. In too many instances, victims have lost their lives or their freedom after falling victim to such scams.

To avoid falling victim to celebrity impersonation romance scams, it’s crucial to exercise caution when interacting with individuals online, especially those claiming to be famous personalities. Be skeptical of requests for money from people you’ve never met in person, and verify the legitimacy of online connections before sharing personal information or financial details. If in doubt, consider reporting suspicious activity to the platform administrators.