Hollywood Minute: Study shows scammers impersonating celebrities are targeting music fans online
Scammers posing as major music stars are increasingly targeting fans.
(CNN)- Scammers posing as major music stars are increasingly targeting fans with fake tickets, bogus merchandise, and fraudulent livestreams, according to a new study by social media security company Spikerz, reported by Billboard.
The report finds that Taylor Swift fans, or “Swifties,” are frequent targets—falling victim to counterfeit ticket sales and fake merch sites. Scammers also create clone accounts of Sabrina Carpenter to offer fraudulent meet-and-greets and pre-sale links, while Billie Eilish impersonators have run fake livestreams and giveaway scams. According to the study, hackers posing as celebrities stole an estimated $5.3 billion this year alone through online scams.
Leonardo DiCaprio is also making headlines this week. The actor earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in One Battle After Another, and TIME named him its 2025 Entertainer of the Year. He’ll be featured in the magazine’s December 29th issue, arriving on newsstands December 19th.
And a new documentary is shining a spotlight on global superstar Wizkid. Wiz-Kid: Long Live Lagos looks at the Grammy-winning Nigerian artist’s rise and how his success in the U.S. has made him a symbol of pride back home. The documentary debuts Thursday, December 11th, on HBO Max.
