Friend's Celebrity Chat Habit: A Red Flag?

Your friend is glued to their phone, chatting non-stop with famous musicians. They might believe these celebrities are planning to visit or even ask for money. But wait, is this real or a scam? Let's dive in. Telegram, a popular messaging app, has millions of users. Some might be celebrities, but what's happening here doesn't add up. It's more like a romance scam, where people pretend to be someone else to trick others into giving money. The Federal Trade Commission reported over 64, 000 romance scams in 2023, totaling $1. 14 billion. The FBI even has a special page about them. If you think your friend is in such a situation, it's crucial to talk to them. Show them websites like FBI. gov and explain the common tactics used in these scams. Make sure they know you care about their safety and finances. Even if they're sure the celebrities are genuine, they should have a solid vetting system. Before making plans, the celebrities should video chat or send a video message answering specific questions. But if your friend is deeply involved, they might not see the risks. So, it's important to set clear boundaries. For instance, they should only give money for things like concert tickets or albums.