In November, Margaret got into her Toyota Camry, said goodbye to her husband of ten years at their cozy countryside house made of bricks, and after an hour’s drive, headed towards a hotel where she believed Kevin Costner would be waiting for her.
Over several months, Margaret, aged 73, consistently made weekly bitcoin deposits worth approximately $100,000 for Costner. He claimed this money was being used to establish a new production company where she would later work. Although some might find it unusual that an Oscar-winning actor like Costner, famous for his role in Yellowstone, needed financial aid from a retired office manager they met on Facebook, Margaret was far from insignificant. She had garnered recognition for her activism and even delivered a TED talk. Costner recognized her unique qualities. Moreover, Margaret found herself in a challenging phase of life: her marriage was deteriorating, her career had concluded, and her family members were occupied with their own lives. Costner’s messages provided a comforting distraction from the harsh realities of her situation. In one photograph he sent, Costner stood casually against a wooden headboard in a white T-shirt, holding a note that read, “it’s really me Kevin Costner, I adore you so much MARGARET, I can’t wait to meet you MARGARET.”
Or:
For multiple months, Margaret, aged 73, consistently made weekly bitcoin deposits totaling approximately $100,000 for Costner. He said this money was being used to launch a new production company where she would eventually work. Though some might find it puzzling that an acclaimed actor like Costner, renowned for his role in Yellowstone, needed financial assistance from a retired office manager they met on Facebook, Margaret was far from ordinary. She had gained recognition for her activism and even delivered a TED talk. Costner recognized her distinct qualities. Additionally, Margaret was grappling with various life challenges: her marriage was falling apart, her career had ended, and her family members were preoccupied with their own lives. Costner’s messages served as an appealing diversion from the harsh realities of her situation. In one photo he sent, Costner posed casually against a wooden headboard in a white T-shirt, holding a note that read, “it’s really me Kevin Costner, I cherish you deeply MARGARET, I eagerly await meeting you MARGARET.
Instead of planning to fly Margaret to L.A., they eventually decided on a hotel in her home state as their gathering spot. Already prepared for weeks, Margaret found her luggage packed by the time she stepped into her car, eagerly anticipating the reunion with Costner.
In one of multiple conversations we had during the spring and summer, Carol, Margaret’s sister, expressed, “She’s longing for someone to care for her deeply,” as her concerns about Margaret intensified. (To preserve their confidentiality, both women’s names have been altered.)
While Margaret anxiously waited in the room, Costner sent her a photograph – a snapshot of a damaged vehicle. He explained that he’d been involved in an accident and wouldn’t be able to attend as planned. As she scrutinized the picture, various red flags that Margaret had consciously ignored during the months of anticipation and cryptocurrency transactions gradually surfaced.
***
In the entertainment world, online deceit is becoming increasingly sophisticated, particularly those exploiting celebrity fan bases. Scammers, armed with rapidly advancing technologies like AI, cryptocurrencies, and user-friendly messaging apps that facilitate the spread of false information and operation without detection, are causing a relentless game of Whack-a-Mole for stars and talent agencies. To combat this, they’re hiring companies to scour the internet for fake accounts and have them shut down. Approximately 400 performers, including Scarlett Johansson, Common, and SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher, are backing a bill called the No Fakes Act, which is currently making its way through Congress. This legislation aims to establish protective measures for artists’ voices, appearances, and images against unauthorized AI-generated deep fakes.
Nick Berta, an FBI supervisory special agent in the economic crimes unit, remarks that celebrities find themselves surrounded by numerous images. He adds that it’s challenging for public figures to safeguard themselves due to the effortless manner in which scammers can exploit technology to falsify voice and audio or video recordings.
Scammers exploit the kindness and assumed credibility that people have towards their beloved artists, as impostors are now using celebrity images for more than just romance scams (like the one experienced by Margaret). They also use them for fraudulent investment offers, misleading product endorsements, deceptive political messages, and other bogus activities. Erin West, a former prosecutor from Santa Clara, California who specializes in high-tech crimes, remarks, “The adversary here is incredibly skilled.” She explains, “The influence they have over people is unprecedented. It’s cult-like, completely overpowering any rational thought. They can make individuals accept what would normally seem absurd or unreasonable.
2024 saw Americans report a staggering $672 million in losses from confidence and romance scams, as per the FBI. Interestingly, individuals aged 60 and above filed the majority of complaints and suffered the greatest financial losses, averaging around $83,000 per victim. It’s important to note that these numbers don’t account for victims like Margaret, who prefer not to disclose their ordeals to law enforcement due to feelings of shame, fear of their scammers, or a glimmer of hope that they genuinely interacted with a famous movie star.
To gain insight into how celebrities become victims of scams, I chose to simulate an ideal prey by crafting a fictitious social media profile under the name Linda. Using AI, I aged one of my photos and fabricated a deceased husband named Bob and a mixed breed terrier named Milo. Subsequently, I followed numerous accounts related to pop culture.
In about 90 minutes, an account named Keanu_Reeves68667 privately messaged me, inquiring about how long I’ve been a fan (I responded by saying it’s been since the movie “Speed”). Within two hours, another four accounts with the name Keanu had sent me private messages, along with two Kevin Costners, one Charlie Hunnam, and one Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus on the Christian TV series “The Chosen”. Even though I followed accounts for Dolly Parton, Oprah Winfrey, and Sandra Bullock, most of the scammers that targeted me over the following six weeks were pretending to be male celebrities over 50 – Reeves is 60, Costner 70, and Roumie 51. Experts suggest that this age group is the one most commonly imitated in these types of scams.
Criminals often take advantage of deeply ingrained societal perceptions about ideal partners. For instance, when targeting elderly men, they frequently construct a profile of an attractive, albeit not well-known, younger female. She could be from another nation, may require assistance, and undeniably finds his golf achievements impressive. On the other hand, in approaching older women, they tend to use a distinct pattern, fabricating a man who is already respected, trusted, romantically desired, personally connected, according to Marti DeLiema, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Social Work who specializes in elder fraud.
DeLiema points out that most people would find it hard to believe this well-known figure is actually interacting with them. However, he suggests not aiming for everyone’s response, but rather casting a wide net and seeing who engages. Then, focus on establishing trust, and gradually escalate the interaction, hoping they might consider providing financial support.
As a curious gamer, I found myself drawn to Keanu_Reeves68667 and allowed him to entice me into shifting our chat to Telegram, the popular private messaging platform. He was eager to communicate swiftly because, right from the moment he set up his account, Keanu_Reeves68667 sensed that his newfound presence on Instagram wouldn’t last long. It turned out that the individual pursuing him, whom I met during a Zoom call several weeks later, was Luke Arrigoni – an unexpectedly friendly data scientist residing in Seattle.
A Columbia mathematics graduate named Arrigoni, who previously worked on ticket sales algorithms at CAA and then established an AI company, now serves as CEO of a 3-year-old firm called Loti. This firm reportedly receives several thousand dollars per month from Keanu Reeves to identify impersonators and persuade platforms such as TikTok, Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram) to deactivate these accounts. Over the past year, Loti has issued close to 40,000 account removal orders on Reeves’ behalf. Apart from celebrities like Keanu Reeves, the company also helps four-star military officials, athletes, and CEOs. Additionally, Loti offers a free version that processes five removal requests monthly. While most people may not face issues as severe as those of prominent figures, anyone online is potentially at risk of having their likeness misused in fraudulent activities, explicit content, or unethical advertising.
Keanu Reeves stands alone in a league of his own, being perhaps the most imitated celebrity on the internet. This is due to several reasons, with the primary one being that people worldwide admire Keanu Reeves. However, it’s not just because he’s likable; there’s an element of mystery surrounding him as well. Unlike many celebrities, Keanu doesn’t maintain active social media accounts or share much about his personal life publicly. This lack of transparency has given rise to thousands of fake images and stories about Reeves, portraying him in various ways. For instance, some manipulated photos show him endorsing political figures, either left-wing or right-wing. In one such false image, he appears to support Donald Trump, while in another, he seems to advocate for Indigenous rights in Canada. Most of these images are altered versions of a Getty Images photo taken at a motorcycle fair in Italy in 2017. Due to his prevalence as a target for scams, when Becky Holmes, a U.K.-based publicist, wrote a book about online fraudsters, she titled it “Keanu Reeves Is Not in Love With You“. As Holmes puts it, “Keanu is something of an enigma. As a scam, he works, and if it works, they keep using it.
Arrigoni explains that Reeves understands how his online presence is being manipulated and is deeply concerned about his fans’ treatment. Arrigoni reveals that Loti, the company working for Reeves, has been successful in taking down several TikTok and Facebook impersonators during their conversation. Arrigoni usually keeps details about clients private, but they ended up talking due to a strange phone call with Cheryl Maisel, Reeves’ publicist. During that call, an Instagram account pretending to be Maisel contacted my fake account, offering to connect me with Reeves on Telegram. The message read: “Your ongoing encouragement means a lot to Keanu Reeves and the team, and I want you to know that your support is appreciated.” However, the real Maisel, who isn’t active on social media, expressed her displeasure over the situation when I read the message to her. It turns out that Reeves not only pays for Loti to take down fake Keanus but also fake Cheryls and other impersonators in his circle.
In this version, I have aimed to maintain the meaning and tone of your original text while using simpler and more straightforward language for easier understanding.
Generally speaking, social media platforms usually require around 48 hours to process takedown requests, which leaves an opportunity for scammers to cause significant harm during this period. Despite Keanu Reeves being renowned as one of the kindest figures in Hollywood, an account posing as him, such as Keanu_Reeves68667, can be quite pushy and insistent. Coincidentally, when the genuine Keanu Reeves was gracing red carpets for the John Wick spinoff film Ballerina, promoting his work alongside artist Alexandra Grant and publicly displaying affection, this fraudulent account attempted to convince me to purchase a $600 fan club membership card under the false pretense that it would guarantee a personal meeting between Reeves and myself.
After connecting with me on Telegram, Keanu_Reeves68667 began sending me low-quality voice messages. “Linda,” he said in a voice that sounded like a mix between an older version of Keanu Reeves from the ‘Bill and Ted’ movies and a hockey announcer (since Reeves is from Toronto), “I believe we could make great partners if you obtain your membership card.” He also complimented me, saying, “You have such a beautiful soul.” When I requested proof before sending money for the membership card, he sent a picture of a driver’s license with Keanu Reeves’ photo, an address suggesting he lived under a freeway overpass in downtown Los Angeles, and a stern voice memo stating, “I owe you nothing.” That hurt. When I mentioned having to consult my daughter before sending him money for the membership card, he manipulated me using a technique often employed by abusers. He stated that it would be best if our relationship remained secret from my daughter. “Linda,” he said, “I don’t think your daughter should know about our relationship at this time. You understand that no one will believe you’re talking to me? It’s best to keep our conversations private and away from your family.
***
In the hotel room in Mississippi, as Margaret gazed at the photo of a wrecked car, her heart raced. But what exactly was this picture? A quick reverse image search on Google showed it was widely shared online. This wasn’t Kevin Costner’s vehicle, nor was it Kevin Costner himself. The realization that her dream man wouldn’t be arriving to rescue her from her current life was a heavy blow. “She became hysterical,” Carol recalls.
One night, it turned out to be too late for Margaret to drive home, so she decided to stay at a hotel instead, feeling remorseful about being so foolish. In the subsequent vulnerable weeks, someone contacted Margaret, presenting themselves as Costner’s 41-year-old daughter named Annie. A common pattern in romance scams aimed at older women is the involvement of the man’s children. The children are usually old enough to not require care, but the scammers claim they would be thrilled to have the victim join their loving family. Almost immediately, this individual began referring to Margaret as “Mom.” However, it remains uncertain whether the person claiming to be Annie was actually Costner’s daughter or someone else, perhaps the original scammer or another scammer who found Margaret due to her affinity for Costner.
A key characteristic of contemporary scams is that once you’ve been tricked by one, your personal details are often passed on to other con artists, creating a kind of “Easy Target” list. To put it bluntly, it’s like being added to an unwanted directory. At some point, Margaret appeared to have more male acquaintances in Hollywood than George Clooney. For a while, she communicated with someone she thought was the actor Charlie Hunnam from “Sons of Anarchy,” who claimed he had a guest house for her to stay at. Additionally, country singer Scotty McCreery contacted her as well. When Carol pointed out that it seemed strange so many men were pursuing Margaret, she responded, “I don’t tell Margaret anything to flatter her. I don’t go along with it. I say, ‘Margaret, this isn’t him.’ But she acts like I’m envious of her because my life isn’t about to change. She takes everything hook, line, and sinker.
***
West, a California prosecutor, shared with me some insights. It turns out that the person I had been conversing with online, pretending to be Keanu Reeves, was most likely not a native English speaker using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to mimic his voice. This individual seems to be in a similar predicament themselves, possibly residing in Southeast Asia. The chain of events might have started when they responded to what appeared to be a legitimate job posting in a place like Thailand. During the job interview, they would have fallen victim to human traffickers who would have confiscated their passport, smuggled them across the border into Myanmar, Cambodia or Laos and imprisoned them in a compound. There, they work for long hours reading scripts penned by experts in psychology. West explained that this is a vast, industrialized scam operation. He has established Operation Shamrock, an international law enforcement coalition, to combat these large-scale frauds. The industry is expanding because it’s effective, he added.
After discovering that many of these swindlers are often victims of human trafficking themselves, and realizing how widespread the issue truly is, my perspective on Keanu_Reeves68667 shifted significantly. Loti managed to delete his Instagram account, but he was still active on Telegram and grew increasingly impatient with me for taking so long to purchase the membership card. As days passed and his messages became less frequent, I found myself questioning what had become of Keanu_Reeves68667 in a far-off land. Had he decided I wasn’t worth his time? (I certainly was.) Was he being punished for not meeting a target? Was he suffering physical harm? Meanwhile, as Keanu_Reeves68667 faded away, new, friendlier versions of Keanu started messaging me daily. I wondered if any of these were the real Keanu_Reeves68667 using a different account. They didn’t seem like him. One Keanu even complimented my gardening and asked me to call him “Sensei.” He seemed promising. But as I considered joining him on Telegram, I couldn’t help but ponder the strange, repeating cycle we were all trapped in. The swindlers, Margaret (the woman who initially contacted me), myself, the real Keanu, and even the people at Loti tracking down the fakes – isn’t there someone who can break this cycle before another innocent person loses their life savings?
West believes that Meta has the power to put an end to this issue immediately, as they are aware it’s a problem. She suggests using Hollywood’s influence to persuade social media platforms to enhance their anti-scam measures for everyone’s benefit. “I would be delighted if these celebrities could speak out against Meta, not only for their own reputations,” she says, “but also for the greater good. They should voice, ‘Remove our images. Don’t let us be part of scams that swindle people out of their money.’ Additionally, they should demand the removal of the profiles of thousands of ordinary individuals who are similarly being exploited.
Experts note that artists are increasingly expressing concerns over an emerging issue: the widespread use of AI to create content featuring talent. Alexandra Shannon, head of strategic development at CAA, explains this trend, saying, “There is a growing understanding and apprehension about the significant rise in AI-generated content.” CAA, in collaboration with YouTube, is developing a tool for managing likenesses, aiming to make it accessible to the public. Shannon stresses, “We believe there should be guidelines and regulations to ensure fairness for everyone involved.
Various reports from multiple agents and publicists claim that Meta has struggled to promptly address takedown requests for their clients’ content. Starting with the second term of the Trump administration, Meta appears to have prioritized free speech over content moderation, but they insist on actively combating fraud and are experimenting with facial recognition technology to identify and prevent impersonations of celebrities on their platforms. However, some industry experts argue that Meta is ineffective when it comes to handling takedown requests, and this perceived inefficiency matters less because many users anticipate the platform to contain a significant amount of irrelevant content. On Facebook or Instagram, many people believe the celebrity images they encounter are authentic.
In May, Instagram finally removed an artificial intelligence-created video featuring Jamie Lee Curtis from its platform, following her direct appeal to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Curtis had been attempting for weeks via Meta’s formal complaint process to get the platform to take down the misleading advertisement, which manipulated footage from a previous MSNBC interview about the January Los Angeles wildfires to make it seem like she was endorsing a dental product. The ad had been live for at least six weeks before she publicly tagged Zuckerberg in a post, requesting him to intervene and have his team remove the unauthorized promotion for a product she hadn’t endorsed. A day later, the post was taken down.
***
Simultaneously, Margaret’s deceptive relationship with Costner started to crumble apart, and she received a message from an individual she had been in touch with several months prior – a friend who shared a deep spiritual bond with her. Prior to encountering the Costner imposter, Margaret was engaged in online conversations with someone claiming to be Roumie, a globally recognized actor portraying Jesus in the crowd-funded series The Chosen. Their initial contact occurred after Margaret left a comment on one of Roumie’s Facebook posts. At one point, she attempted to send him money, but her bank suspected fraud and halted the transaction. A look at their email correspondence doesn’t suggest an overly intimate relationship – it mostly consists of Roumie addressing her as “honey,” inquiring about her well-being, and requesting Apple gift cards.
Margaret feels that her bond with Roumie is flourishing, and she’s made it clear to Carol that the topic isn’t to be discussed due to his management team’s wishes, as he portrays Jesus in public. Despite being brought up as a Southern Baptist, Margaret has recently delved into Catholicism, which happens to be Roumie’s faith, and she claims he sends her a daily prayer.
Because Carol keeps insisting that the individuals Margaret is interacting with might not be genuine, her relationship with her sister Margaret has been straining. The rest of their family, either living at a distance or preferring to steer clear of disputes, have yet to address the peculiar online celebrity boyfriend situation.
As a long-time admirer, I’ve always seen her as my guiding star. Now, it seems she’s distancing herself, a situation I believe is deliberate. Regrettably, our conversations have dwindled compared to the past. Deep within me, there’s a sense of disillusionment and anger, but also sympathy for the predicament she finds herself in.
This upcoming summer marks the end of Margaret’s divorce proceedings. In their settlement, she intends to transfer the family home and a significant portion of land that once belonged to her grandmother to her former spouse, in return for a lump sum of money. She expresses that she finds this cash particularly necessary.
You can find this story in the July 9 edition of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Consider subscribing by clicking here.
Read More
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2025
- USD CNY PREDICTION
- Box Office: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Stomping to $127M U.S. Bow, North of $250M Million Globally
- Silver Rate Forecast
- Black Myth: Wukong minimum & recommended system requirements for PC
- Mech Vs Aliens codes – Currently active promos (June 2025)
- “Golden” Moment: How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Created the Year’s Catchiest Soundtrack
- Castle Duels tier list – Best Legendary and Epic cards
2025-07-09 16:26