Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock is raising the alarm about social media scammers who are pretending to be her and preying on unsuspecting fans.
Sandra set the record straight that she does not use any kind of social media. (Photo Credit: Instagram)
Sandra Bullock has had enough of the fakes. The Hollywood star is calling out scammers who are impersonating her online, tricking innocent fans and worst of all, putting her loved ones in danger. Now, she’s making it crystal clear – if you think you’re chatting with Sandra Bullock on social media, you’re not. The Oscar-winning actress is raising the alarm about social media scammers who are pretending to be her and preying on unsuspecting fans. In a recent statement, shared on Monday, February 3, Bullock, 60, made it clear that she takes this issue seriously.
“My family’s safety, as well as the innocent people being taken advantage of, is my deep concern, and there will be a time when I will comment more, but for now our focus is helping law enforcement handle this matter,” she said.
She also set the record straight about her social media presence or rather, her complete lack of it. “Please be aware that I do not participate in any form of social media. Any accounts pretending to be me or anyone associated with me are fake accounts and have been created for financial gain or to exploit people around me,” she warned in her statement to People.
The situation escalated when Bullock’s younger sister, Gesine Bullock-Prado, took to Facebook on Sunday, February 2, to expose the overwhelming number of fraudulent accounts impersonating her online.
“I spend multiple times a day reporting fakes,” Gesine, 54, wrote, sharing screenshots of bogus profiles. She explained the disturbing reality behind these scams, men believing they are in a secret relationship with Sandra through fake profiles, only to be manipulated into handing over thousands of dollars.
“I spend multiple times a day reporting fakes, dealing with weird and scary emails to my business and home from men who believe that, through one of these many fake ‘me’s,’ they have a relationship with my sister through private messages and off-app sites and have been giving (sometimes) thousands of dollars to an incredibly famous and successful grown woman,” she wrote.
Gesine didn’t hold back when calling out Facebook for its inaction. Despite repeatedly reporting the fraudulent accounts, she revealed that “Surprise! They are all still up!”
She detailed the process she follows, reporting the scammers not only to Facebook but also to a security service that flags the accounts for a direct Meta employee. However, she claimed these fake profiles are often linked to organised crime rings that run entire fake groups, even posting “official statements” under her name.
Gesine assured her followers that she only has one account and it’s all about baking, cooking, animals and gardening. “I’m a grown middle-aged woman with a life and I don’t troll around at 54 DMing people,” she clarified.
Her advice to anyone who comes across these fake accounts? “If you see a fake account, are friended or messaged by one, report and block,” she said.
Interestingly, she noted that Instagram, which is owned by the same company as Facebook, handles impersonation cases far more effectively. “Strangely, Insta handles these things and even informs me when someone creates an account that may be an imposter. But FB? The same company with the same tech? Can’t be bothered,” she concluded.
With scams like these on the rise, Bullock and her sister are urging the public to stay vigilant. Their message is clear—be sceptical, report suspicious activity and never send money to someone you’ve only met online, no matter how convincing their story may seem.
