INDIANAPOLIS— No, Kim Kardashian is not asking you to donate to her charity or to collect a prize from her fan club.
The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers about celebrity scams making the rounds.
Typically, the scammers pose as celebrities on social media and ask fans to send money to claim a prize, donate to a charity or give help of some kind.
The FTC warns consumers this is the latest version of an imposter scam, where someone pretends to be someone you trust to convince you to send them money.
The FTC says here’s what you should do if you get a message from a famous person or their fan club:
- 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 and ask them to reverse the transaction if it’s possible.
- Report your experience to the social media site and the FTC.
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