Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter AI impersonators scam fans of $5.3 billion in 2025

AI impersonators of Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter scammed fans out of $5.3B in 2025, report finds

Hackers have impersonated top music stars, including Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter, to scam fans.

According to a report by social media security company Spikerz, these scams have defrauded fans of an estimated $5.3 billion in 2025. 

The study highlights the rising threat of AI-powered celebrity scams across platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and X.

Scammers used fake accounts, cloned profiles, and AI-generated content to trick fans into purchasing nonexistent concert tickets, merchandise, VIP experiences, and cryptocurrency schemes. Swift and Carpenter were identified as the most impersonated artists of the year, followed by Billie Eilish, BTS, Adele, Ed Sheeran, BLACKPINK, Ariana Grande, Drake, and Lewis Capaldi.

The report warns that social media platforms, where artists engage with fans most directly, have become prime targets for fraud. Scott Cohen, co-founder of The Orchard and advisor to Spikerz, stated, “Social platforms have become the most important connection point between artists and their audiences, and therefore, the most vulnerable.”

Specific scams included fake Swift ticket listings and VIP packages, while Carpenter’s younger fanbase faced cloned accounts advertising fraudulent meet-and-greet offers. Billie Eilish impersonators ran fake livestreams and giveaways to harvest personal data. Other high-profile incidents in 2025 included hacks targeting Adele, Future, Tyla, Pink Floyd, and the estate of Michael Jackson for cryptocurrency scams.

Spikerz emphasized that these impersonation scams not only cost fans billions but also harm artists’ reputations and long-term revenue potential. Fake accounts tricking fans into buying non-existent merchandise or experiences can significantly undermine future sales and engagement.