Reba McEntire has come forward to condemn a blatant online scam that has set its sights on her loyal social media following. Over the recent weekend, the 69-year-old Grammy Award-winning artist issued a Public Service Announcement (PSA), urging her fans to exercise caution while navigating the digital realm. The country music legend revealed that fraudsters have been masquerading as her online, reaching out to her followers with deceptive promises of meet-and-greets in exchange for payments via gift cards or electronic fund transfers.
The Nov. 17 announcement, posted across her official social media platforms, began with a stern warning: "I and my team will NEVER initiate contact with you through a direct message or a cellphone number asking for money to meet me." She emphatically reiterated, "PLEASE PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE. Do not disclose any personal information, purchase gift cards, or send money electronically to unknowns."
The concise yet gravity-laden message was signed by the esteemed coach of The Voice and was shared广泛传播 on her Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. Many social media users retweeted the post from the "I'm a Survivor" chanteuse, sharing their own encounters with such fraudulent activities.
One X user commented, "Sad but true, unfortunately. I've received several such direct messages," noting an increase since Reba released "I Can't" earlier this year. Another user expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you for this, as it's heartbreaking to see people falling prey to such scams. Thankfully, I always knew it wasn't really you, but others might not. Thanks, Reba, for sharing this!" Another joked, "I knew it wasn't you, though I wouldn't mind if it were!"
One Instagram user added, "I wish more celebrities would take the time to do this. People are being scammed everywhere." Similarly, NCIS alum Pauley Perrette also addressed the issue of fake social media accounts impersonating her, sharing videos to warn her fans. In a post on Instagram last July, she said, "I don't understand why anyone would want to impersonate someone else, but I do understand that this is dangerous. They're asking for money. So, let me say it again: I am not on Facebook."
Although it's a vastly different scenario, Tom Hanks was also compelled to issue warnings to his fans, on more than one occasion, regarding promotional videos that apparently featured AI-generated versions of him promoting products.
All these instances highlight a chilling reality: as technology becomes smarter, so do scammers. That's why we consulted an expert to gather the best practices for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones from financial scams online.
