Scammer Pretends To Be Jelly Roll On Facebook
As AI-generated content dominates social media, it has become even more challenging for users to evaluate what’s real and what isn’t. Not to mention, scammers are using AI more often to impersonate celebrities and trick everyday people into sending them money or gift cards.
Ronnie Flint of Springfield, Ohio, was recently fooled by AI videos of a scammer pretending to be Jelly Roll. He shared his story with WDTN out of Dayton to warn others not to fall for the same trap.
Flint said he received a Facebook message from “Jelly Roll” one day. As a fan of Jelly’s music, Flint was excited to see the singer had reached out to him.
His excitement grew when the man he believed to be the “I Am Not Okay” singer told him he won $50,000 and a brand-new car. In an attempt to add authenticity to their claim, the scammer sent Flint a video of someone who appeared to be Jelly. In the video, Jelly Roll asked Flint to send him money to cover the shipping cost for his prizes.
Flint was suspicious as first. The person he messaged with sent him a photo of a driver’s license to attempt to prove their identity. It didn’t quell Flint’s suspicions.
Ronnie Flint Eventually Sent The Scammer Some Money
However, Flint became more convinced after he received a second video.
“When they sent the second video where he actually said my full name, that got me,” he said. “I was like, wow, it really is Jelly Roll. He said my name.“
Flint added, “I really thought it was Jelly Roll.“
Now convinced, Flint sent the account $70 in Apple gift cards at their request. “I even told him that I’m on disability. You know, this is all the money that I have for the rest of the month,” Flint said.
When Flint told a family member about the situation, they warned him that a scammer was likely impersonating Jelly Roll through an AI video. Flint stopped communicating with the account and filed a police report.
Still, the scammer continued to ask for money. “They’re thinking I’m going to send them another $30 on the 3rd, which ain’t going to happen,” Flint said.
Flint wanted to share his story with the public so others would be aware of these types of scams. “I don’t want them to fall for it the way I did,” he said.
You can see the AI video the scammers used to trick Flint in the news report below.
How To Recognize Online Scams And Fake Celebrity Profiles
For starters, it’s highly unlikely a celebrity as famous as Jelly Roll will reach out to anyone in personal messages on social media. If you think you’re receiving a message from Jelly Roll or another well-known figure, verify the authenticity of the profile before initiating communication. Chances are, you’ll discover they’re a scammer.
Look for a check mark next to their name. Most public figures will have this check mark on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and other sites.
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Also, a real celebrity’s page will often have a large number of followers, sometimes totaling in the millions. A scam page may only have a handful followers.
Also, a scam page may try to make their username look the same or similar to the actual celebrity’s, and they’ll even use their exact profile picture. But look out for any extra letters, numbers, or symbols that may be sneakily added to the name.
For example, someone pretending to be Jelly Roll could easily make their username Jelly R0ll with a zero, and it wouldn’t always get noticed.
Most importantly, be wary of anyone asking you to send them money (especially in the form of gift cards) if you don’t know them personally.
While AI has made it easier for con artists to pull off their tricks, social media scams are nothing new. Artists who attended the 2018 CMT Music Awards got together to film a PSA about such scams. Their advice still rings true today, so watch the video below to hear what they had to say.