Johnny Depp Issues Warning to Fans, as Online Scam Impersonating Him Spreads

U.S. actor Johnny Depp poses during a photocall for the film "Jeanne Du Barry" during the 76th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 17, 2023. Valery Hache/AFP via Getty Images

Award-winning actor Johnny Depp is taking aim at artificial intelligence technology (AI) and scammers that are impersonating him online for solicitation purposes.

The 61-year-old took to social media on Jan. 6 to wish fans a Happy New Year but to also issue a much needed public service announcement regarding an apparent scam targeting them.

“Happy New Year, Everyone,” he wrote. “Sadly, it has been brought to my attention that online scammers are intensifying their efforts to target my fans and supporters.”

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star said the scammers are pretending to be him along with members of his team, and are using AI technology in conjunction with multiple deceptive social media and email accounts as part of their tactics.

“Today, AI can create the illusion of my face and voice. Scammers may look and sound just like the real me. But neither I, nor my team, will ask you for money or your personal information,” he continued.

Last month, online tech publication “Gizmodo” submitted a Freedom of Information Act request and found the FTC received nearly 200 complaints in 2024 of scammers targeting and stealing money from fans while posing as Depp.

Elderly people were typically the main targets of the scam. Victims were often lured through Facebook and other chat-based platforms, with money being retrieved through various methods including Bitcoin, ATMs, Zelle, PayPal, Coinbase, and gift cards.

Depp reiterated that he and his team are “actively working to combat these illicit schemes,” and specified which social media accounts belong to him and are verified.

“I do not offer paid meetings, phone calls, club memberships, or fan cards ... I do not interact directly with fans on any social media platforms, via email, or via chat-based platforms ... Again, neither myself, my team, my agent, nor my family will ever contact you on my behalf asking for money or your personal information,” he clarified.

Impersonating other celebrities and high-profile figures like President Donald Trump or Elon Musk is not uncommon, and as a result of developments in AI tech, the use of deepfake videos and photos are on the rise.

Cybersecurity company “McAfee” released back in October their 2024 “Celebrity Hacker Hotlist,” which outlined the leading list of celebrities being used to exploit individuals via online scams.

Actress and star of Marvel’s “Black Widow,” Scarlett Johansson, led the charge as the most frequently used celebrity for scammers in the United States.

Joining her in the top 10, were famous names including actor Tom Hanks, singer Taylor Swift, and Kylie Jenner, with Depp ranking number nine on the list.

Through AI-generated content, their likeness is used to develop unauthorized advertisements and endorsements, fraudulent giveaways or tickets scams, and even disinformation campaigns.

Meanwhile, “Meta,” formerly known as Facebook, has in recent months tested new methods in combating celebrity scams using AI through its platform, by expanding on its existing defenses of facial recognition technology to find new ways to protect users and make it harder for scammers to deceive people.