Being a celebrity may come with glamour and perks, but South African stars are increasingly speaking out about a darker side of fame: identity theft and social media scams.
Top personalities, including Connie Ferguson, Mpumi Mophatlane (Mrs Mops), and Omuhle Gela, have recently issued strong warnings to fans about fraudsters using their names, images, and even deepfake videos to defraud people.
Connie Ferguson: “A Scammer Tried to Scam Me — As Me!”
Legendary actress and businesswoman Connie Ferguson shocked fans when she revealed she was targeted by a scammer impersonating her, using AI-generated content to appear real.
In a now-viral Instagram post, Connie narrated the surreal incident:
“I get a WhatsApp message and a missed video call from a ‘Connie Ferguson’. The number showed up as belonging to a ‘Madonsela’ on Truecaller. I recorded the call with another phone, and it turned out to be a clip from a live workout I did during COVID!”
She added, “SCAMMERS ARE DOING THE MOST!” warning her followers never to believe investment offers made in her name.
“I do not offer any investment business. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Thieves are using AI to trick people. Don’t lose your common sense because times are hard.”
Mrs Mops & Omuhle Gela: Similar Warnings
Reality TV star Mpumi Mophatlane, popularly known as Mrs Mops, also sounded the alarm after discovering multiple fake pages promising business opportunities in her name. “Please stop falling for these scams,” she told her followers. “If it doesn’t come from my verified page, it’s fake.”
Actress Omuhle Gela echoed similar sentiments, sharing screenshots of fake investment profiles using her photos. “This is getting out of hand. I don’t even do forex! Please report and block,” she wrote.
AI-Driven Scams on the Rise
Experts warn that AI and deepfake technology are making it easier for scammers to mimic celebrities convincingly. Some fraudsters are now using video clips from Instagram Lives or YouTube interviews to simulate live video calls, deceiving unsuspecting fans into sending money or personal information.
How to Stay Safe
Celebrities are urging fans to:
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Only interact with verified accounts
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Never send money or personal details to anyone promising investment returns
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Be wary of unsolicited DMs or WhatsApp messages
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Report suspicious accounts immediately
Final Word from Connie
In a follow-up Instagram Story, Connie added:
“A whole wow. A scammer trying to scam me AS ME? Issa movie! Please don’t be a victim. These criminals are ruthless.”
