The 78-year-old superstar violinist has warned his Facebook followers not to be fooled by anyone masquerading as him online
US violinist Itzhak Perlman has become the latest in a series of star performers targeted by online scammers. The 78-year-old superstar, whose Facebook page currently has 660,000 followers, took to social media to warn readers about falling for their latest ruse. As well as his Facebook page, Perlman also has 220,000 followers on Instagram and 46,100 on X (formerly Twitter).
‘It has come to my attention that someone has been impersonating me on Facebook, social media, or in a chat,’ Perlman wrote on 10 July. ‘They are sending messages requesting private chats and/or funds from members of my Facebook page. Please know that I will never solicit funds or send direct messages. Please do not succumb to this impersonator. Please do not respond to any direct messages you receive from me. Very truly yours, Itzhak Perlman.’
Several readers responded to Perlman’s post acknowledging that they had received messages purporting to be from him. ‘This happens all the time,’ stated Cyan Ravanaugh. ‘I’m very active in the rock guitar community and the number of fake accounts is just incredible. On one hand I’m sorry this happened to you. On the other hand it’s kind of cool that the classical world is getting the same recognition.’
Another high-profile violinist, David Garrett, has also repeatedly fallen victim to accounts impersonating him on social media in recent years. It has prompted his social media team to warn followers not to respond to fake accounts and to confirm the handles of Garrett’s official channels.
Watch: Violinist Itzhak Perlman on working with John Williams on Schindler’s List
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