NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office, in collaboration with the Secretary of State, issued a warning to Tennesseans about scammers exploiting the name and likeness of celebrities to defraud consumers.
“We love that Tennessee is home to lots of celebrities who generously give back to our communities,” said Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. “It's reprehensible that scammers would exploit a celebrity’s name to deceive hardworking Tennesseans who want to help their neighbors. My office is glad to collaborate with the Secretary of State to expose these fraudulent schemes and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
“Sadly, we’ve seen a significant rise in scammers attempting to utilize the name or likeness of celebrities to take advantage of consumers,” said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. “We encourage all to remain vigilant and report any questionable communications to us or the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office so we can prevent Tennesseans from being victimized.”
The Division of Consumer Affairs advises consumers that celebrity scams may take various forms:
**Fake charities:** Scammers create sham charities using a celebrity’s likeness for solicitations. Before donating, research the charity on sites like Charity Navigator. Verify claims by contacting known groups directly through official channels. In Tennessee, check if the charity is registered with the Secretary of State's website.
**Bogus endorsements:** Fraudsters post promotional content appearing as celebrity endorsements for products or investments, often using doctored media. Verify authenticity by searching online for potential scams related to the product or company. Be cautious about investment opportunities promising high returns with low risk and consult your doctor before trying celebrity-endorsed health products.
**Online phishing schemes:** Scammers impersonate celebrities online through fake social media accounts, direct messages, emails, or websites aiming for personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Avoid sharing personal details with unknown contacts online and be wary if asked for money via unconventional methods like gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Reports of celebrity scams can be made to both the Federal Trade Commission and the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office.
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