As Valentine’s Day Approaches, Charlie, Banking* for 62+ Americans, Reveals the Celebrities Fraudsters Most Often Impersonate in Romance Scams Targeting Older Americans, with Keanu Reeves & Jason Momoa Topping the List

Romance Scams Have Exploded as Older Americans are Increasingly Lonely & Often Turn to the Internet for Companionship; Scammers Use Popular Celebrities to Prey on Victims’ Trust & Drain Their Finances

Charlie Is Releasing the Names to Help Seniors Protect Their Money and Their Hearts

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As Valentine’s Day approaches, Charlie, banking* for 62+ Americans, has revealed the celebrities fraudsters most frequently impersonate in romance scams targeting older Americans. Topping the list is Keanu Reeves, followed by Jason Momoa, Sandra Bullock, and Ryan Reynolds. Charlie is releasing the names to help seniors recognize and avoid falling victim to romance scams.

Romance scams have exploded in recent years as many older adults turn to the internet to seek companionship and love. A stark example is the recent Brad Pitt romance scam, where a victim was swindled out of over $800,000. This behavior is fueled by the growing loneliness and social isolation epidemic, which has significantly impacted older Americans.

Scammers exploit this vulnerability by posing as well-known celebrities to build fake, emotional relationships and ultimately steal money, personal information, or valuable assets. These scammers generally operate through online dating sites and social media platforms, where they initiate contact and quickly cultivate a relationship that feels personal, genuine, and often intense. Eventually, the scammer fabricates a crisis—such as a medical emergency or urgent financial need—to exploit the victim’s trust and affection.

Charlie, which serves tens of thousands of older Americans across all 50 states, analyzed its reporting data to identify the celebrities most frequently impersonated in reported romance scams. Fraudsters use the names, photographs, and videos of these high-profile celebrities to manipulate victims into believing they’re communicating with a real person, gaining their trust while laying the groundwork for their scam.

The top celebrities impersonated by financial fraudsters are:

1. Keanu Reeves
2. Jason Momoa
3. Sandra Bullock
4. Ryan Reynolds
5. Kane Brown
6. Tom Selleck
7. Luke Grimes

Financial fraud, including romance scams, is having a devastating impact on older Americans, and emerging technologies, like AI, are making it increasingly difficult to detect and prevent. Each year, over $28 billion is stolen from seniors, with the average victim losing $35,000. The emotional impact is equally severe, with 65% of victims experiencing stress, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression.

Common signs of a romance scam include:

• Speed: Scammers will profess their love quickly, within hours or days, and use affectionate and highly personal language to establish an emotional connection.
• Perfection: Their story will seem too good to be true, with photos and a backstory that convinces the victim it’s the real celebrity.
• Generosity: Often, scammers will offer to send the victim money as a method of gaining their trust, but the money never materializes.
• Avoidance: Despite declaring their love, they will always find excuses to avoid meeting in person.
• Urgency: They often create fake emergencies, medical issues, or travel expenses as reasons for needing money.
• Secrecy: They will discourage their victim from discussing the relationship with friends and family or from seeking advice.
• Inconsistencies: Details of their story may change over time.

There are steps older Americans can take to protect themselves, including:

• Common Sense: While we all may wish things were different, Jason Momoa and Tom Selleck do not want to be in a relationship with any of us.
• IRL Community: Focus on building connections in real life rather than online. If you do build a relationship online, confirm the person’s real identity.
• Talk to Your Community: Speak with your friends and family if you suspect someone may not be who they claim to be.
• Check Their Story: Celebrities are often visible at events or on social media. Compare their claims to publicly available information to spot discrepancies.
• Never Send Money or Share Info: Be suspicious of anyone asking for money, personal information like a Social Security number, or sensitive account information like login credentials, especially if the request involves urgency. If in doubt, block the individual immediately.

This is Charlie’s latest effort to empower older Americans to make the most out of their money and keep it safe. Charlie recently announced Family FraudShield, a first-of-its-kind financial conversation guide aimed at helping people discuss financial fraud with their older parents and relatives, and CharlieSaver, the most comprehensive source for senior discounts nationwide. Last year, Charlie introduced SpeedBump, a proprietary combination of pauses, alerts, and real-time education introduced at the exact moments customers are most vulnerable to fraud. In November 2023, Charlie launched FraudShield, a comprehensive, personalized suite of fraud protection tools built exclusively for the unique needs of 62+ Americans.

*Charlie is a financial services company, not a bank. Banking services provided by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Charlie accounts are subject to pass-through FDIC insurance up to $250,000 per ownership category, should Sutton Bank fail. Certain conditions must be satisfied for pass-through deposit insurance coverage to apply.

About Charlie

Charlie is the place for older Americans to get the most out of their money and keep it safe. Charlie uses machine learning technology and an expert, US-based customer service team to study older Americans’ unique financial habits, needs, and vulnerabilities. These insights inform the features and functions Charlie designs to provide them with financial flexibility and protection. With faster access to their Social Security check, groundbreaking fraud protection, competitive earnings on deposits, no monthly fees or minimums, and intuitive, age-optimized product design, Charlie customers have the financial peace of mind they deserve. Banking services provided by Sutton Bank; Member FDIC. To learn more, visit Charlie.com.

Contacts

Julie Halpin

Julie@charlie.com