A woman has fallen victim to a cruel scam after being deceived by a con artist pretending to be Hollywood actor Kevin Costner. The impersonator built a relationship with the victim over time, ultimately convincing her to send more than $62,000 under false pretenses.
According to authorities, the scammer used photos and fabricated stories to gain the woman’s trust, claiming to be the award-winning actor and requesting money for supposed personal and professional emergencies. The victim, believing she was helping the real Costner, transferred the funds in multiple payments.
Law enforcement is using this case to warn the public about the dangers of celebrity impersonation scams, which are on the rise, particularly through social media and messaging platforms. They advise never to send money to someone you’ve never met in person and to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be a public figure.
If you or someone you know has been targeted by a similar scam, you’re urged to contact your local authorities or report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).