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EVANSTON, Ill. (WGN) — An Illinois woman thought she was sending gift cards to actor Kevin Costner in hopes of elevating her financial portfolio. It turns out that she was the latest victim of a scam that federal authorities say has been circulating since at least 2018.
According to police in Evanston, the victim says she sent gift cards totaling $62,000 over a six-month period to someone claiming to be Costner via Telegram, an instant messaging service. The “actor” promised to multiply the victim’s investment.
Authorities said she never received the promised cryptocurrency.
The cryptocurrency scam often uses gift cards to deceive victims, with scammers posing as celebrities to lure them into their schemes. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has previously warned against consumers sending money to celebrities who contact them online.
“Imposter scams come in many varieties, but they all work the same way: a scammer pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money. And that’s exactly what these celebrity imposters are trying to do,” the FTC said.
Evanston police and the FTC offered tips on how locals can protect themselves from scams:
- Slow down. Before you send money, talk with someone you trust.
- Do some research: search online for the celebrity’s name plus “scam.” Do the same with any charity or cause they’re asking you to support—and learn more about charity scams here.
- Never send money, gift cards, or prepaid debit cards to someone you don’t know or haven’t met – even celebrities you meet on social media.
- If you sent money to a scammer, contact the company you used to send the money (your bank, wire transfer service, gift card company, or prepaid debit card company). Tell them the transaction was a fraud. Ask the company to reverse the transaction, if it’s possible.
- Report your experience to the social media site and the FTC.
“Some celebs do raise money for legitimate causes. But you want to be sure the cause — and the person asking you to support it — are real,” the FTC said.