Hackers scammed fans out of $5.3 billion in 2025 by impersonating celebrities like Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, according to a new report.
Per Billboard, Israeli social media security firm Spikerz shared the cost of AI scams in a new report that broke down how hackers took over Instagram accounts for celebs to fleece fans.
A major attack in August targeted the accounts of Adele, Future, Michael Jackson, Tyla, and Pink Floyd in a cryptocurrency scam that swindled fans out of at least $49,000. One fan forked over $350,000 in a scam that impersonated Johnny Depp and his team, while hundreds of other scams led to hackers taking millions, per Gizmodo.
The Spikerz report, meanwhile, found that scammers most frequently targeted musicians Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish due to their fandom bases and trust with the public.
While Swift’s fans were targeted with fake tickets, merch, and VIP offerings, Carpenter’s fans were more likely to see fake accounts offering meet and greets and pre-sale links.
The report found that a shocking one in five concert tickets sold over social media was fake and came from either a scam or a seller who ghosted. BTS, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and BLACKPINK were also commonly impersonated by scammers.
Social media accounts like TikTok, Instagram, and X, which are used to promote artists and engage with fans, were particularly vulnerable for “fraud and brand damage,” per the report.
“When fans are duped by a fake account into buying non-existent merch, tickets, or experiences, the artist not only loses revenue, but suffers a blow to reputation that undermines future sales and engagement,” the Spikerz report stated. “The resulting brand damage can reduce the value of sponsorships, collaborations, and label partnerships.”
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