Fraud schemes that exploit the names of celebrities to extort money and goods are on the rise. Agencies representing famous entertainers like Song Ga-in, Byun Woo-seok, and Ha Jung-woo have issued official statements urging heightened caution.
Recently, there has been a surge in scams impersonating celebrities. The methods of impersonation are becoming increasingly sophisticated and varied. Scammers have been posing as employees of entertainment agencies or production companies to request proxy payments for restaurant reservations, expensive alcoholic beverages, or even asking for advance payments for actors' dining or event expenses.
Celebrity impersonation scams exploit the trust and image that stars have built over many years. Celebrities who are well-known publicly are more likely to gain trust, making them more vulnerable to fraud. Such scams have been consistently occurring. Scammers use the credibility of these stars to lure victims into investments, donations, or product purchases, and even engage in romance scams through social media.
In light of the recent increase in impersonation scam victims, agencies have been issuing official statements urging caution.
On the 6th, Song Ga-in's agency reported, “Recently, a scam method known as ‘proxy purchase’ has emerged, where individuals impersonate our staff to extort money and goods. They pose as Song Ga-in's manager, approach small business owners under the pretext of dining events, and request that they purchase wine from a specific vendor, promising to reimburse them during the event.”
They added, “Our staff will never request money or product purchases from outside parties under any circumstances. If you receive similar requests, it is highly likely to be a crime, so please do not transfer money or respond.”
Byun Woo-seok's agency, Baro Entertainment, shared on the 8th, “Scammers are impersonating our celebrity's manager, approaching small business owners and companies, and requesting advance payments for specific products (mainly wine) under the guise of dining events, then cutting off contact once the preparations are complete, causing victims to suffer from ‘no-show’ scams.”
Ha Jung-woo's agency, Workhouse Company, and Namgoong Min's agency, 935 Entertainment, also issued a statement on the 9th, stating, “Neither our artists nor our agency or any related staff will ever make such monetary requests,” urging caution.
To avoid falling victim to celebrity impersonation scams, it is essential to verify the authenticity through official contact information, and if you receive suspicious communications, report them to the police and the respective agency. As these crimes become increasingly sophisticated, heightened vigilance is required.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
