KISSIMMEE, Fla. – An 81-year-old Tennessee widow lost roughly $30,000 in cash, bitcoin and gift cards to a person or persons pretending to be country music star Luke Bryan.
The victim’s daughters, who live in Florida and Tennessee, contacted News 6 to expose the romance scam that started on a Facebook fan page two years ago.
The women asked that we not use their last names but wanted to share the lies the imposter used.
Leann, who lives in Kissimmee, told News 6 the battle to convince her mother that she was not talking to the real Luke Bryan has been difficult.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
“She still thinks it’s Luke,” LeAnn told News 6. “She goes, ‘It really was. You just wouldn’t understand.’”
The imposters sent gifts, including a necklace and a travel mug with the initials L. B.
The victim was convinced Bryan needed the money for music production and travel costs to visit her.
Elizabeth, who lives three hours from her mother, told News 6 it has been unsettling for the entire family.
“Oh, it’s consumed me for the last two years,” she told News 6. “She thinks she has a person to talk with. He’s made her all these promises.”
The imposter claimed he was getting a divorce and that his wife had frozen his assets.
For the record, Bryan, a 47-year-old father of two, is happily married.
News 6 contacted the Nashville law firm representing Bryan and representatives were willing to talk to the 81-year old grandmother to explain that she was being deceived. She declined.
Page Kelly, a partner with Milom, Crow, Kelley, Beckett and Shehan, issued a statement, which said in part: “We hope that she can come to understand that Mr. Bryan has never contacted her directly.”
News 6 spoke to the 81-year-old woman, but she asked that we not include her in our reporting.
Common red flags for celebrity romance scams include:
- The imposter will ask for money for medical, travel or business emergencies
- The imposter will always have an excuse why he or she cannot meet in person
- The imposter asks you to have money transferred to your account and then you transfer it on to them or another person
If you have been a victim of an investment or romance scheme, email makeendsmeet@wkmg.com or simply text the words Make Ends Meet to 407-676-7428.