Elderly Americans are being scammed out of millions of dollars in a widespread social media scam involving scammers impersonating actor Johnny Depp, according to an FTC complaint obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. It became clear.
gizmodo report The FTC announced that it has received 197 complaints nationwide detailing sophisticated fraud schemes in which scammers pose as Johnny Depp on social media platforms and primarily target victims in their 60s and older. This type of scam, known as “pig butchering,” typically starts with a contact on Facebook and then moves to a messaging app like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Zangi.
According to McAfee, Depp is among the 10 most popular celebrities whose likenesses have been used in fraudulent deepfake videos. The 61-year-old actor's popularity among the older generation appears to make him an effective bait for scammers targeting the elderly.
The economic impact of these scams is severe. In one case in Alabama, the victim reported losing $350,000 of her inheritance. Another victim in California was over 80 years old and lost about $200,000. A Michigan man in his 70s was scammed out of $175,000 through various wire transfers and gift cards.
Scammers use multiple tactics to extract money from victims. Some pretend to be Depp's manager, often using the name Jack Wingham, while others claim to be the actor himself. Scammers frequently request funds through a variety of payment methods, including Coinbase, Bitcoin ATMs, Zelle, PayPal, and gift cards.
Victims report being manipulated under various false pretenses. In Minnesota, a scammer successfully persuaded a victim to transfer $100,000 to a bank in Utah, claiming he needed help paying the IRS. Other victims were promised romantic relationships, marriage, or opportunities to invest in cryptocurrencies.
Families have reported numerous instances of elderly relatives with declining mental capacity being repeatedly targeted. In Alabama, her daughter reported that her 65-year-old mother, who has an intellectual disability and early signs of Alzheimer's disease, lost $20,000 to scammers who continued to take advantage of her vulnerable condition.
The psychological impact on victims is significant. A Minnesota woman in her 60s who lost $1,700 before the bank intervened expressed deep pain in her lawsuit, saying she lost not only money but also her self-esteem and mental health.
Law enforcement agencies note that these scams often include sophisticated social engineering tactics. Scammers could send photoshopped images of Depp in various situations, including while he was in the hospital, to create a convincing story to extort money. They frequently instruct victims to keep their communications secret, further isolating victims from potential help.
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Lucas Nolan is a reporter for Breitbart News covering free speech and online censorship issues.
