Hallmark is getting ready to kick off its annual Countdown to Christmas event. This is the time of year for magic and romance. Sadly, it’s also the time of the year when scams are on the rise. In the meantime, some of your favorite stars from the network are issuing a warning about a problem that’s growing on social media.
Key Takeaways
- Hallmark stars are uniting to issue this urgent warning to fans ahead of the holiday season.
- Unfortunately, social media scams are common around the holiday season, especially when most feel lonely.
- This scam doesn’t just happen with Hallmark stars.
- General Hospital star Steve Burton warned soap fans about a similar scam that cost one woman her savings.
‘Tis the Season to Warn About Scams
Hallmark posted a PSA video on Instagram. Tyler Hynes, Tamera Mowry, and Nikki DeLoach started off the video by warning fans about fake celebrity accounts. Andrew Walker shared that it’s become a “growing industry-wide problem.”
Later in the video, B.J. Britt and Jonathan Bennett shared that there’s been an uptick in fake social media accounts pretending to be Hallmark stars and asking fans for money. The stars informed fans that they would never reach out to them personally for money or private meetups.
“It’s a scam,” DeLoach warned. “Please block the account and report it to the social media platform immediately.”
Happens to Soap Actors As Well
Social media scams are common around the holidays, especially when most fans are lonely. This allows scammers to prey on their emotions and exploit the time of year.
Scammers hope that fans will lower their guard to send money to their favorite actors. It’s a problem across the entertainment industry, including the soap opera genre.
A General Hospital fan was scammed out of her life savings by someone who made deepfake videos of actor Steve Burton. The videos that the woman received looked and sounded like him.
However, they were created using AI software. Some scammers are taking a step further by creating videos and photos using the actors’ likenesses. They add a personalized touch, making the fans feel as if they’re interacting with their favorite stars.
Then, the scammer will try to get them to send money. It was too late for Abigail, who sent a total of $81,304. She also lost her savings, sold her condominium, and filed for bankruptcy.
Protect Yourself From Scammers
If you ever receive a message from your favorite, think twice. Check the spelling of their real name or username. Make sure there’s a blue checkmark or verification badge next to their name.
If the social media profile doesn’t pass the test, then it’s likely not from them. See what Y&R star Eric Braeden had to say about this common social media problem.
