Have you or a loved one received a message on Facebook from someone claiming to be Johnny Depp?
Its a scam targeting elderly people thats become common in recent years.
The vast majority of the victims are also in their 60s.
Actor Johnny Depp attends the press conference of ‘Modi, Three days on the Wing of Madness’ at Real Alcazar on November 9, 2024 in Seville, Spain.© Photo by Niccolo Guasti/Getty Images
In reality, theyre just handing money to scammers.
A woman in her 60s from Minnesota is typical of the victims.
And shes clearly struggling with the shame and embarrassment of falling for a scam.
These scammers will often pose not just as Depp himself but as support staff and managers.
One common tactic that emerges from the complaints is a character named Jack Wingham, billed as Depps manager.
But these victims obviously arent talking to Depp or anyone else associated with him.
Sometimes the complaints filed with the FTC have been made by the victims themselves.
Weve published a sample of the scams below.
just dont send money to random people on the internet, even if they seem like real celebrities.
We promise youre not talking to the real Johnny Depp.
1) If you could give me my inheritance back I would appreciate it.
If you could give me my inheritance back I would appreciate it.
These imposters ran off with mine here it is and I want it back.
I want to press, criminal charges and dispute that having my money.
2) About $200,000 so far.
Consumer is sending money to someone she believes is Johnny Depp.
About $200,000 so far.
Her daughter is [redacted] the one calling us for any help we can give her.
He made false claims and statements about financial circumstances and promises to her.
4) The man that pretended to be Johnny Depp claimed he needed help paying the IRS.
Months went by and the man that pretended to be Johnny Depp claimed he needed help paying the IRS.
Marge then sent $100,000 to the scammer via wire transfer to a bank in Utah.
Communication took place over Facebook Messenger and Telegram.
Money movement was via wire transfer.
5) Over the past two years she sent approximately $80,000.
Ms. [redacted] begin talking to Johnny Depp approximately 2 years ago on Facebook.
[redacted] was in a romantic relationship with him with promises of marriage.
[redacted] stated that he promised to pay her back the money but never did.
[redacted] stated that over the past two years she sent approximately $80,000.
[redacted] deleted the information from her phone and only has the information below.
[redacted] sent money by Apple Giftcards to [redacted].
The check details are below.
6) He even gave his bank account number to to transfer the funds.
Consumer heard about new cryptocurrency called ocean coin and he was message by someone posing as Johnny Depp.
He ignored all the red flags that was popping up because it sound too good.
He gave them a total of $45,000 to pay supposed taxes.
He even gave his bank account number to to transfer the funds.
He is calling to see what he can do.
Caller is resigned to loss and already had made report to ICE.
Caller does not wish to engage an attorney.
7) She has lost about $40,000 to some claiming to be Johnny Depp.
Consumer reports that she has lost about $40,000 to some claiming to be Johnny Depp.
The consumer wanted this report.
Consumer reports that someone filed a false 2023 tax return also.
I am filing this report for my mother.
She was being scammed by this person in the past.
They pretended to be Johnny Depp and she gave them hundreds of dollars.
He has since been honest about who he is but is still scamming her out of money.
My mother is 65 years old and is not in good health.
She does not have an official diagnosis but she has had classic intellectual disability symptoms her whole life.
She now is beginning to show signs of Alzheimers.
These scammers (and this one in particular) has scammed her out of literally 20,000 dollars.
She can barely pay her rent or her car payment.
This particular scammer knows what he is doing and knows how her health is.
This is disgusting and I need to find help and I dont know what else to do.
9) This person sent her pictures of Johnny Depp in a photoshopped hospital stay.
My mother was scammed out of $20,000.
This person sent her pictures of Johnny Depp in a photoshopped hospital stay.
He would tell her he was beaten or in accident and needed money because he was robbed.
I have reported this to Apple and this persons Apple account had been disabled.
Eventually started messaging her on whats app.
11) You should be ashamed and embarrassed.
My mother [redacted] received a fake check from a scammer pretending to be Johnny Depp.
They said they could not discuss it with me.
However, they let her transfer $2,500 into her BofA account.
Then from 09/05-09/09 she withdrew $2,284 from the account thru the BofA ATM.
How is this possible when you are sending her messages that there is fraudulent activity on her account?
This makes absolutely no sense.
That is over $7,000 on a check that was originally $4,800.
How is this possible.
She knew exactly what she was doing, and you are just promoting it.
Why would she ever stop?
All because you did not do your job initially when she deposited a bad check into her USAA account.
You should be ashamed and embarrassed.
She bought a $12,000 first class ticket to see him in Los Angeles.
The flight leaves a week from Thursday.
She was told to keep everything quiet.
The consumer wants to know how to protect her sisters identity.
The impostor did ask for money and talked about a celebrity access card.
She is not buying an access card.
14) He still uses mind head games.
Cash app closed me down because of him.
He has hacked into my EM people credit union and tried to hack into my founders account.
He has done this by a love emotional under duress account.
Using psychological tactics and mental abuse until I fought back.
He still uses mind head games.
I am reporting him stealing all these things.
I had to buy gift cards to when my crypto shut down.
just help recover these monies.
I dont use gift cards.
I am 60 years old no need for them.
15) After about week Depp wanted me to apply to Management to schedule a vacation.
Receiving messenger texts from Johnny Depp requested I move to Zangi for private conversation.
I dont have their number, my number is [redacted] on Zangi.
After about week Depp wanted me to apply to Management to schedule a vacation.
Have stopped communication as of 2/6/24.
Although texting continues to have me redpond.
Also calling my Zangi number to ring 1-2 times hang up.
I just found out and am taking over handling this as best I can.
He first claimed to help her invest in bitcoin through cashapp.
She gave these people everything.
sign in info to any and everything.
They got her to take out loans for them and everything.
No telling what all they have done with all her personal info they have.
Ill just add them here.
The name on Telegram is [redacted].
17) She has already sent $3,000 through a Bitcoin ATM.
He gave her contact information for who she believes is Johnny Depp.
She has already sent $3,000 through a Bitcoin ATM.
She does not believe me that it is a scam and continues to communicate with this person.
18) He was helping her invest money using Bitcoin.
Consumer got her ID stolen.
She gave her SSN and banking information and debit card information.
She was a messaging on telegram someone for over a year.
She thought she was corresponding with Johnny Depp.
He was helping her invest money using Bitcoin.
It started 2/12 months ago.
I could have lost up to 10,000 if the bank didnt stop it.
At first she was doing $20-50 of her SSA/SSI money in a week.
10/30 $300, 11/3 $50, 11/5 $300, 11/7 $100.
I canceled the card on 11/7.
We have also taken her phone away from her so she cant communicate with him.
She gave him her SSN, DOB, address, her phone #s and my phone numbers.
Whatever he asked for she gave him.
Her caregiver took lots of screen shots.
She never spoke to him.
I pulled that phone off one of the screen shots but were using multiple apps to communicate.
22) I am now in financial trouble!!
He Johnny told me to send $300.
To [redacted] for the real security card.
I believed U was in Love and I trusted him and sent the money.
I had to get a title loan to send this money.
I am now in financial trouble!!
I am on SSI and 69 years old.
However I NEED my money back and want these people prosecuted!!
Well , he never did THis is where the money was provided in obtaining gift cards .
Apple gift cards to be exact.
After a couple of weeks I was asked if I wanted to go on a vacation with him .
This would be great.
Then came the cost from $1,000.00 to as much as $8,000.00 for a week.
I told him/them I could not on disability afford any price.
So one of them said if I paid half they would pay the other half.
I told them I could not.
The one says just send what I could.
PayPal would not allow me to send so they got a different name to use.
I sent $1.00 this pissed the person off royally.
They sent it back.
Then they said send $100.00 This is at 3 am or later.
I sent it they sent it back.
I said after I sent and seen how much it was that I couldnt afford that.
They did not send it back .
My phone rang and I heard the phone being set down.
I also heard them discussing if they could get more from me.
Then the phone hung up.
I tried to screen shot the conversation but before I could everything disappeared.
PayPal has all the transfers in history but because it was sent friends and family they do not help.
I just had put it off as lesson learned when I see a PayPal money request.
The womans name was demanding I send her $100.00 as my dad had scammed her out of it.
My dad died in 1976 this was on fathers day a sad day for me anyway.
So I learned how to block them both names.
My mother is being scammed by someone claiming to be johnny depp.
She has sent money to this person several times.
Myself and family have all tried to convince her she is being scammed but insist its real.
c’mon help stop this madness.
Do you have a story to tell about an online scam?
it’s possible for you to email the author of this post at[email protected].
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