If you get a message from Kevin Costner asking for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or a little help with a “business opportunity,” do yourself a favor: immediately shut that conversation down. Because it’s not him. We’re truly sorry!
Believe it or not, this actually happened in real life. An Illinois woman recently learned this the hard way after sending a jaw-dropping $62,000 to someone pretending to be the “Yellowstone” actor via the messaging app Telegram.
According to WGN 9 Chicago, the scammer spent six months chatting with “the actor” and, let’s be honest, flirting under the guise of a celebrity-backed investment deal. It involved gift cards, promises of crypto returns, and, well, to no one’s surprise, none of it was real.
Police in Evanston confirmed the woman was the latest target of a crypto-fraud ring that’s been duping people online since at least 2018. “Due to the nature of the crime, an arrest is highly unlikely,” authorities said, noting the chances of recovering any of the stolen funds were unfortunately slim.
While Costner has no connection to the scam, his name and face were used to create an illusion of legitimacy. And sadly, he’s not alone in being impersonated. Apparently, there have been several celebrities, Morgan Wallen, Latin singer Enrique Iglesias, and Vince Gill, to name a few. These celebrities have had their identities misused in similar schemes this year.
Kevin Costner Is Too Busy Being Legendary to Scam You
But, let’s get something straight: Costner isn’t lurking on Telegram asking strangers for money. He’s currently balancing a Hollywood career that spans over four decades and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Most recently, Costner took a bold step away from his hit show “Yellowstone” to pursue his passion project. A sweeping Western epic called “Horizon: An American Saga.” The first chapter hit theaters in June 2024, with Costner directing, co-writing, and starring in the film.
In a GQ interview, Costner opened up about the $100 million gamble he made on the project, revealing, “That’s the message I want my kids to understand about who I am: that I do what I believe. I have fear like everybody else. I don’t want to be humiliated.”
That’s the Costner people have admired for years, the risk-taker who so well captures the character of the indomitable John Dutton in “Yellowstone.”
As for his Dutton departure? While fans are still reeling from his Season 5 exit, Costner has made it clear he’s looking forward to telling new stories.
What’s Next for the Real Kevin Costner?
With “Horizon,” Costner is entering an ambitious new phase of his career. It’s classic Costner, quietly determined, fiercely creative, and nowhere near your inbox asking for $100 Amazon gift cards.
So, if you think you’re getting personal texts from Costner? Don’t fall for it. As his team emphasized after the Illinois scam made headlines, Costner does not communicate with fans through private messages or solicit money online.
So, from us to you, here’s the golden rule. If someone claiming to be a celebrity asks you for money, it’s almost certainly a scam. Trust your gut, verify the source, and remember, Costner’s got scripts to write, cattle to wrangle, and legends to build.
Sorry, folks!
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If Kevin Costner Asks You to Send Him Money, It’s Not Him