Keanu Reeves deepfake scam highlights rise in AI celebrity impersonation fraud

Express Tribune

10-07-2025

Scammers are leveraging AI tools and social media to impersonate celebrities like Keanu Reeves and Kevin Costner, tricking vulnerable fans into sending large sums of money. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter's Rebecca Keegan, one victim, 73-year-old Margaret, left her husband and spent over $100,000 in bitcoin believing she was in a romantic relationship with Costner. The scam unraveled when she arrived at a hotel expecting to meet him — only to receive a fake photo of a car crash and realize she'd been deceived.
Margaret's story is one of many in a growing wave of AI-fueled romance and confidence scams exploiting celebrity fandom. According to the FBI, Americans lost $672 million to such scams in 2024 alone, with seniors being the most affected group. Experts say scammers often impersonate older male stars with broad appeal, using AI-generated voice memos and doctored images to build emotional trust and manipulate victims.
'These scams are industrialized and psychologically manipulative,' said Erin West, a former California prosecutor leading an international anti-fraud effort. 'It overwhelms normal reasoning — it's cult-like.' Some scammers are themselves victims of human trafficking, trapped in cyber-fraud compounds across Southeast Asia and forced to work long hours.
In response, celebrities like Keanu Reeves have hired companies like Loti to track and take down impersonator accounts — issuing tens of thousands of takedown orders annually. Reeves is considered one of the most impersonated stars online, largely due to his popularity and low public profile. Meanwhile, legislation like the proposed No Fakes Act is gaining traction in Congress to better protect the likenesses of public figures.
Experts and insiders warn that without stronger regulation and accountability from platforms like Meta, the cycle will persist — with more victims like Margaret caught in its wake.