MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – A scam involving a Keanu Reeves impersonator has affected victims across the country, including a Marion County resident. The scam, conducted with the use of AI through mobile games such as Words with Friends and Scrabble Go, resulted in over $160,000 in combined losses.
The victims believed that they were communicating with the actor and were eventually persuaded to send money. According to The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the scammers used video chat and voice messages to convince the women of his identity and build trust, and one of the two women even formed a three-year relationship with the scammer as a result.
The case was featured in an episode of AARP’s The Perfect Scam podcast.
Authorities advise residents to avoid sending money to individuals they’ve only met online and to be cautious of unsolicited messages, even through casual platforms like mobile games.
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