Love scam, known as “love scam,” occurs when criminals use another person’s photos and identity to create fake profiles and maintain fake relationships, often for financial purposes. One of the most talked about cases recently was that of Juliana Paeswhose photo was used by scammers to scam an elderly man from Minas Gerais who thought he was dating the actress and ended up losing R$32,000 over three months. But did you know that other celebrities have also had their photos used in this type of scam?
- The supermodel discovers that she has been the victim of a catfish“They used my face to maintain a fake relationship.”
- Do you remember him? Alessandra Ambrosio’s “friend”, the Italian player victim of the coup, still resonates on the networks; Remember this case
Joe Essen is one of those examples. The influencer discovered her private photos and videos were being used by a fake profile on a dating app to maintain a virtual relationship with an elderly man, who she believed had been talking to her for about a year. The scammer copied content from Ju’s social media networks to lend credibility to the character. Commenting on the case, she stated that this was not the first time her image had been used without permission, and highlighted the seriousness of the problem affecting more and more public figures.
On the international scene, the list of celebrities participating in similar episodes is also extensive. Brad Pitt His name was used in a scam in France in which a woman lost about $850,000 after she believed she was in a virtual relationship with the actor. The criminals used manipulated images and convincing messages. Following the fallout, Pitt’s representatives confirmed that the actor does not use social media and warned the public against fake profiles.
Keanu Reeves His image was also used in a scam that attracted attention due to its complexity. A California woman reported losing nearly $160,000 after being scammed by someone who sent manipulated photos and even videos to impersonate the actor. Although Reeves has not commented directly on this specific episode, his team has previously cautioned that he rarely makes direct contact with fans online.
Another case with major implications concerns the Brazilian model Alessandra Ambrosio. The photo of the top has been used for almost 15 years by scammers who convinced Italian player Roberto Cazzaniga that he was in a relationship with her. During this period, he sent approximately 700,000 euros to the criminal group, which fabricated justifications for not meeting the victim in person. When the world press revealed the story, it became clear that the model had nothing to do with the fraud.
For psychoanalyst Eduardo Omeltic, the love scam is not just a financial crime, but also a mirror of the emotional vulnerabilities of those who fall into this type of trap. He explains that no one enters into a fake relationship because he is naive or “stupid,” but rather because he is looking for connection, attention, and affection. According to the expert, many victims project to others the fantasy of ideal love that satisfies loneliness, neediness and the need for validation, while the scammer offers exactly what they want to hear, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable.
Omeltech highlights that these scams work because criminals identify emotional gaps and build personalized personas. Among the warning signs, he cites inconsistency in stories, refusal to appear on video, “too perfect” profiles, requests for money and relationships that only exist on screen, without real existence. The psychoanalyst recommends checking basic information, talking to people you trust before getting involved financially, and above all, paying attention to your emotional vulnerabilities. For him, protecting yourself from catfish also involves boosting self-esteem and recognizing emotional patterns that repeat themselves: When a person learns to make better choices and question what seems too good to be true, the scam loses its power.
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