A Scammer Involved With Cryptocurrency Pretending To Be Kevin Costner Targets Illinois Woman

A woman in Illinois is out nearly $62,000 after being scammed by someone pretending to be Kevin Costner.

According to police, the victim allegedly sent gift cards worth tens of thousands of dollars to someone claiming to be the actor on Telegram, an instant messaging service.

The scammer promised to multiply the woman’s investment in cryptocurrency, but never delivered on the money.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has previously warned against these types of scams, as victims are often deceived into sending gift cards to “celebrities” to lure them into the scheme.

“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,” the FTC said. “And that’s exactly what these celebrity imposters are trying to do.”

Costner previously made a video for fans, warning against the scam and telling everyone he would never ask for money.

“I am not reaching out to you directly, so if you feel that it’s not me,” the actor said.

He told fans that he would never communicate with any fans directly, and he hopes the scammers are caught and punished.

“My heart is with you and anyone that has been hurt by this,” Costner told fans.

The FTC Offers Tips On How To Avoid Imposter Scams

In order to more efficiently avoid these types of imposter scams, the FTC has offered a number of tips to keep in mind.

The commission says to first talk with someone you trust before ever sending anyone money online, and never send gift cards or prepaid debit cards to someone you don’t know or haven’t met.

They also say to do plenty of research, and look into the celebrity’s name or charitable organization tied to any scams.

“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,” the FTC advises.

The Kevin Costner Scam Has Been Around For Awhile

In July of 2024, a 63-year-old woman from England was also a victim of a similar Kevin Costner scam.

Eileen Leeks, a huge Yellowstone fan, started following a Facebook page which she believed belonged to the actor.

She said she was then sent messages telling her that to become an official fan she would need to purchase a “voucher.”

“I was getting nagged and then I gave in because they were saying you won’t meet him unless you get the Apple cards, so I bought two at £100 each,” Leeks said.

The British woman said the scammers went as far as using Costner’s voice and face to lure her into sending money.

“I then got a message back saying I had been scammed and [in order to actually meet Costner] I would have to buy a VIP membership card for over £1,000,” she continued.

Scam expert Julie Matthews warned that online predators are making it their full-time job to target the most vulnerable members of the community, pretending to be a celebrity. She asks people to protect those around them that may be vulnerable to scams.