Online scams are rising in the U.S., with fraudsters targeting victims through social media. One of the latest cases involves a 63-year-old woman from Los Angeles, Guadalupe Cepeda, who was tricked by an impostor pretending to be Latin pop star Enrique Iglesias.
The scammer manipulated her with fake romantic promises and ultimately stole over $3,000. After the story gained attention, Iglesias took to social media to warn his fans about the dangers of celebrity impersonation scams.
Enrique Iglesias, known for his hit song Héroe, responded to the scam on Instagram by sharing a report from Primer Impacto (Univision). He urged fans to be cautious in English and Spanish, writing: “Attention! Only connect with Enrique Iglesias’ official and verified profiles. Any other account is a scam. It’s heartbreaking to see criminals exploit kindhearted people. Don’t fall for it!”
The 49-year-old singer reinforced his message by sharing links to his official social media accounts, making it clear that these are the only trusted sources for updates on his music and career.
How was she scammed?
Guadalupe Cepeda told Primer Impacto that she met the scammer through an Enrique Iglesias fan group on social media. Believing she was speaking to the singer himself, she communicated with the impostor for two years. During that time, he convinced her to send money through gift cards—one of the most common tactics used in online romance scams.
Cepeda was ready to leave her husband, convinced she was in a real relationship with Enrique Iglesias. However, her family grew suspicious and traced the scammer’s phone number to Nigeria—a known hotspot for online fraud operations.
“I just need to know if it’s really you, Enrique,” Cepeda pleaded on Univision’s Primer Impacto. “If you’re asking me to leave my husband and marry you, tell me the truth. I just want closure.”
Her husband, Martín Pérez, also made a public appeal to Iglesias. “If Enrique hears about this, please help my wife see the truth. She is emotionally devastated.”
This isn’t the first time a celebrity impersonation scam has made headlines. In January, a French woman went viral after falling victim to a Brad Pitt romance scam.