‘Keanu Reeves … I know it’s not you’: Fraudsters pretend to be celebrities in scam attempts

A SoCal lady thought she was being courted on-line by Keanu Reeves till a request for cash was produced from the millionaire film star.

“To today, this morning, I acquired — yesterday and immediately — eight texts from this Keanu Reeves man … I’ve emails and chats and texts and footage and stuff that, I dare any woman to learn these and never consider it’s true. They go proper to your coronary heart,” mentioned Playa del Rey resident Pamela Landers.

Landers wasn’t actually being wooed by one of many world’s greatest film stars. She was a sufferer of what are often called imposter or impersonation scams.

The Keanu Reeves rip-off is a comparatively latest model of this racket — and one so efficient, victims have reported being conned by it each nationwide and around the globe.

“Impersonation scams are available plenty of varieties, whether or not that’s authorities impersonation or enterprise impersonation, relative impersonation or on-line love curiosity, in any other case often called romance scams,” mentioned Christopher Brown, an lawyer for the Federal Commerce Fee.

For the reason that begin of the pandemic, greater than 150,000 romance scams have been reported to the FTC — probably only a fraction of the whole. Many, if not most victims, are too embarrassed to report having been duped.

“A scammer pretends to be somebody that you simply belief in an effort to persuade you to ship them cash or your private info,” Brown mentioned.

That’s the way it labored with Landers, who says Pretend Keanu spent weeks expressing his love and profitable her belief. 

As soon as the hook was baited, Pretend Keanu began reeling Landers in. First, he requested her web price. Then he requested for cash — $400,000.

In case you’re questioning, Keanu Reeves is estimated to be price $380 million. Landers, who works as an accountant, mentioned she requested Pretend Keanu why a multimillionaire wanted her monetary assist.

“I by no means bought a solution on that one,” she mentioned.

She additionally by no means despatched any cash, however the texts and declarations of affection continued. Romance scammers are nothing if not persistent.

“Keanu Reeves, if you happen to’re watching this, I do know it’s not you. I hope everybody is aware of it’s not you,” Landers mentioned.

Reeves — the true one — was unavailable for remark, however his publicist mentioned in an announcement that “Keanu Reeves doesn’t take part in ANY type of social media, nor has he ever completed so up to now or plan to take action sooner or later. If anybody tries to contact you by way of social media claiming to be him, it’s a FRAUD.”

The FTC advises that you simply reduce off all communication with a web based Romeo or Juliet the second you’re requested for cash.

However Landers says this may be troublesome, particularly for individuals who could also be lonely or who could also be thrilled simply by the thought of being wooed by a star.

Even now – now that she is aware of it was all a ruse — Landers nonetheless seems to be again on the primary few weeks of Pretend Keanu’s attentions with a way of pleasure.

“It was very flattering. It was, it was romantic … I needed to all the time preserve reminding myself after that first two weeks that it’s not actual. Individuals don’t fall in love this fashion. It simply doesn’t occur,” she mentioned.

However the ruse works. Final yr alone, in line with the FTC, victims of romance scams misplaced greater than half a billion {dollars}.

“In case you’re in any manner feeling vacancy in some a part of you, they’re gonna discover it. They discovered it with me,” Landers mentioned.