Celebrities, they're just like us? Well, not if they’ve committed pandemic fraud.
Here is a roundup of cases investigated by the oversight community involving notable figures in music, sports, and media.
A Bad Influence
A Miami-based social media influencer with over 34,000 followers pleaded guilty to wire fraud and identity theft of over $1,000,000 in pandemic funds. For nearly a year, her scheme involved creating fake businesses and using stolen identities of nearly a dozen victims to collect the fraudulent funds. Additionally, she would use counterfeit driver's licenses using her picture with the victim's information. She used her Instagram platform to post about the lavish lifestyle obtained through fraud.
Skating on Thin Ice
A former Olympic speedskater was charged with money laundering and making false statements after obtaining roughly $10,000,000 in PPP loans for her production company. She was charged with falsely claiming to employ hundreds of employees with monthly payrolls of nearly $5,000,000.
Reality Bites
A star of the TV reality show, "Love and Hip Hop," is currently serving a 17-year prison sentence for PPP fraud and operating a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. At the start of the pandemic he submitted a loan application for $3,700,000 for his trucking business which he falsely claimed employed over 100 people. He promised to use the funds to pay these fake employees - instead he funded a lavish lifestyle with expensive jewelry and a Rolls-Royce.
Hollywood Walk of Shame
In sunny Beverly Hills, CA, a man pleaded guilty for fraudulently trying to obtain over $6,700,000 in COVID-related small business loans. He claimed to own a number of businesses that simply didn't exist.
🎬 Fraud Critics Reviews🎬
Many pandemic fraudsters play the role of an identity they've stolen.
The FTC reported a 3,000% increase in identity theft complaints
related to government benefits in 2020.
Read about what we're doing to help protect your identity
and your money.
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