Actor Sam Neill issues warning to lonely women after his name and photos are used in online love scams
Fan favourite Sam Neill has revealed that fraudsters have been using his good name to lure unsuspecting and lonely women into ‘love scams’.
These are con tricks in which online con artists use the promise of romance as a means to rob money from victims in search of companionship.
The handsome 75-year-old star warned Instagram followers on Thursday over a series of schemes using his famous name and image.
Fan favourite Sam Neill (pictured) has revealed that fraudsters have been using his good name to lure unsuspecting and lonely women into ‘love scams’
The post, written on behalf of Sam by his his assistant, Lauren, said that scammers having been posing as Sam and contacting fans over social media.
This is not possible, the post explains, because the star does not have a private account and ‘does not keep secrets’ from his social media team.
‘Sam has asked me to post on here to share with his followers an idea of the number of fake Sam Neill accounts out there on Instagram,’ it said.
‘The ONLY real Sam Neill account is this one – with the blue verified tick,’ the message continued.
The handsome 75-year-old star warned Instagram followers on Thursday over a series of schemes using his famous name and image. Pictured: Instagram grab showing his original account, and fake accounts on the platform
Included in the post was a screen grab of Sam’s Instagram with a red marker circling the star’s account and the message, ‘Warning’.
Other fake accounts, using the Thor star’s name, have been involved with get-rich-quick crypto-currency rackets.
Most surprisingly, scammers have tried to convince fans that Sam is seeking a love interest.
Sam’s full message posted to fans on his official social media account
‘He definitely isn’t having an online romantic relationship with you,’ Sam’s assistant messaged on behalf of the star.
‘That’s the trash bag scammer wasting your time, potentially breaking your heart and disappearing with your money ‼️’
Sam’s message told fans that the star would never use social media for bitcoin, money or ask any one to send a Western Union transfer.
Some fans strived to take Sam’s message seriously
Other followers were grateful
‘He won’t be trying to send you a diamond ring from Sri Lanka (that you then need to pay customs fees for)..that’s a scammer again!!’ Sam’s post warned.
Meanwhile, it appears that some of the star’s fans did not want to take Sam’s warning too seriously, with some of his 530,000 followers keen to take the mickey.
‘Who the hell have I been sending all those nudes to?’ responded one male fan.
‘Wait, you mean the message he sent me asking me to send him bitcoin to be in a Jurassic Park movie wasn’t real?’ said another, before adding: ‘Well, this is awkward!’.
Other fans were grateful for Sam’s warning.
Please continue to report the fake accounts that contact you,’ one follower commented. ‘It helps a lot and will continue to make Instagram a safer place for everyone.’
Sam joins a long line of stars and celebrities whose famous name has been used by scammers online in get rich quick scams
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