AI Imposters Using Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter’s Names Scammed Fans Out of Eye-Watering Sums in 2025

Fans of major music stars were tricked out of an estimated $5.3 billion in 2025, according to a new report on the growing problem of AI-powered celebrity scams. The report, released by social media security company Spikerz, says scammers used fake accounts, hacked profiles, and cloned content to target fans of artists like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, and Billie Eilish.

The scammers tricked people into buying fake tickets, merchandise, VIP experiences, and even cryptocurrency schemes. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X were flagged as major hotspots for this type of fraud.

Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter were the most impersonated artists of the year, followed by Billie Eilish, BTS, Adele, Ed Sheeran, BLACKPINK, Ariana Grande, Drake, and Lewis Capaldi. The report explains that scammers focus on musicians because fans trust them and engage closely with their content online.

“Social platforms have become the most important connection point between artists and their audiences, and therefore, the most vulnerable,” said Scott Cohen, co-founder of The Orchard and advisor to Spikerz. “If we want artists to innovate and experiment, we have to give them digital environments where they’re not constantly under attack.”

The scams took different forms depending on the artist. Swift fans were offered fake ticket listings, merchandise, and VIP packages. Carpenter’s younger audience faced cloned accounts promoting fake meet-and-greet events and pre-sale links. Billie Eilish impersonators hosted fake livestreams and giveaways to steal personal information and payments.

The report also highlighted several high-profile scams from 2025. Hackers took over Instagram accounts of Adele, Future, Tyla, Pink Floyd, and Michael Jackson’s estate to promote a cryptocurrency scheme that netted at least $49,000. In another case, scammers pretending to be Johnny Depp and his team reportedly took hundreds of thousands of dollars from fans.

Spikerz warns that these impersonation scams don’t just hurt fans financially—they also damage the artists’ reputations.

“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 engagements,” the report says.

The rise of AI tools has made these scams more realistic and harder to detect, showing a growing need for better security and awareness for both artists and fans.

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