According to Billboard, hackers targeting music fans scammed them out of nearly $5.3 billion in 2025. That’s billion with a B.
The report from social media security company Spikerz reveals that scammers are impersonating celebrities and their teams to steal from the people who love them most. The rise of AI has helped these scams be extremely successful.
How do these scams work?
These attacks start with hackers taking over the Instagram accounts of celebrities. Maybe you’ll get a DM from a member of Taylor Swift’s “team” slides into your DMs with an exclusive presale code. Or it could be a message from what looks like Billie Eilish’s account offering a meet-and-greet.
There was a massive attack in August 2025, targeting the accounts of Adele, Future, the late Michael Jackson, Tyla, and Pink Floyd in a cryptocurrency scam that cost fans at least $49,000. One fan lost over $350,000 in a scam where someone impersonated Johnny Depp and his team.
According to the report, one in five concert tickets sold over social media was fraudulent. That’s 20 percent. You have a better chance of getting scammed than you do of rolling a six on a die.
Taylor Swift fans get hit with fake tickets, counterfeit merchandise, and bogus VIP packages. Sabrina Carpenter’s fandom encounters clone accounts offering fake meet-and-greet, pre-sale links, and merch that will never arrive. Billie Eilish fans are tricked by fake livestreams or giveaways using the singer’s likeness.
Other frequently impersonated artists include BTS, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and BLACKPINK.
Why musicians make perfect targets
Music stars are perfect targets because of the intense connections their fans have towards them. Fans feel like they know them personally, even though they’ve never met. That emotional attachment is gold to a scammer.
Usually, when someone is contacted by a celebrity they admire, they’re not going to question “why me?” until it’s too late. Instead the fans in question are more focused on being noticed. They think about how lucky they are. Maybe they’re more concerned about getting a good deal on tickets or having something to brag about on social media.
The most targeted artists in 2025 were Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish. These are artists with massive, devoted fanbases who live on social media. Their teams rely on TikTok, Instagram, and X to market tours, albums, and engage with fans. As Spikerz points out, these platforms have become “high-risk entry points for fraud and brand damage.”
How to spot the warning signs
Thankfully, there are warning signs you can spot to protect yourself.
Strange messages coming out of nowhere offering exclusive deals or opportunities should raise suspicion. If a “celebrity” or their “team” contacts you unprompted, treat it like a scam until proven otherwise.
Also, check the username handle. Does it match the official account? Or does it have extra letters, numbers, or symbols? Is it verified? If not, it’s probably fake, even if the photos and posts look convincing.
Feeling pressured to act fast is a classic scam tactic. Whether it’s buying tickets or merchandise, if they’re rushing you, they’re scamming you. Real opportunities don’t evaporate in 20 minutes.
If they want you to pay using hard-to-trace methods via cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or sketchy payment apps, walk away. If they send you to a website that doesn’t match the artist’s official pages, close the tab.
Double-check everything. If the offer, giveaway, or event isn’t mentioned on the artist’s verified accounts or official website, it doesn’t exist. Scammers love claiming things are “exclusive” or “last minute” to explain why there’s no official announcement.
Keep an eye out for AI deepfakes. If you receive a video or audio clip from a “celebrity,” look for glitches. Lip movements slightly out of sync, strange blinking, or speech that sounds robotic are all signs it was generated by AI. If the clip only appears in an ad, DM, or random account instead of verified channels, assume it’s fake.
If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Your favorite artist isn’t personally messaging you to offer VIP tickets. Their team isn’t randomly selecting you for a private meet-and-greet. You didn’t win a giveaway you never entered. Ignore the message, then block and report the account. Your bank account will thank you.
