Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter and Others Targeted in Massive AI Scam Ring

Artificial intelligence is reshaping online fraud, and in 2025 some of the most visible victims were music fans. According to a report by social media security firm Spikerz, cybercriminals used AI-generated deepfakes and cloned social media accounts to impersonate some of the world’s biggest music stars, scamming fans out of an estimated $5.3 billion.

The scams targeted artists with massive and highly engaged fanbases, including Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, BTS, Adele, BLACKPINK, Ariana Grande, Drake, and Lewis Capaldi.

Hackers posed as these celebrities using fake or hijacked social media profiles, often posting realistic content designed to look official. Fans were then lured into purchasing nonexistent concert tickets, fake merchandise, VIP experiences, meet-and-greet passes, and fraudulent pre-sale links.

Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X were identified as high-risk entry points, largely because they are where artists interact most directly with fans. In some cases, scammers hosted fake livestreams and giveaways to harvest personal and payment information.

Younger audiences were especially vulnerable, particularly when scams promised exclusive access or limited-time offers.

Cybersecurity experts warn that as AI tools become more advanced and easier to use, celebrity impersonation scams are likely to grow more convincing.