A widespread social media scam involving fraudsters impersonating actor Johnny Depp has defrauded elderly Americans of millions of dollars, according to FTC complaints obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Gizmodo reports that the FTC has received 197 complaints nationwide detailing a sophisticated fraud scheme where scammers pose as Johnny Depp on social media platforms, primarily targeting victims in their 60s and older. This type of scam, known as “pig butchering,” typically begins with contact on Facebook before moving to messaging apps like Telegram, WhatsApp, or Zangi.
According to McAfee, Depp is among the ten most popular celebrities whose likeness is used in scam deepfake videos. The 61-year-old actor’s popularity among older generations appears to make him an effective lure for fraudsters targeting senior citizens.
The financial impact of these scams has been severe. In one case from Alabama, a victim reported losing $350,000 of their inheritance. Another victim from California, aged 80 or older, lost approximately $200,000. A Michigan resident in their 70s was defrauded of $175,000 through various wire transfers and gift cards.