NCIS star Pauley Perrette has issued a crucial warning to her fans about scammers impersonating her online. On Tuesday, the actress, renowned for her role as Abby Sciuto on the CBS drama from 2003 to 2018, took to Instagram to address the issue.
In a video recorded from her LA home, Pauley shared a troubling story about a fan who was scammed by someone pretending to be her on Cameo, a platform where users can request personalized video messages. “Last night, I received a message on Cameo, which is the only platform where I interact with strangers,” Pauley explained. “I was informed that a family member of a fan had been duped by someone impersonating me. I did everything I could to address the situation, but scammers are incredibly crafty.”
Pauley also recounted a separate incident where her former pastor contacted her, confused about a supposed friend request from her on Facebook. “I’m not on Facebook,” she clarified. “It’s frustrating and bewildering to see people impersonating me, and it’s dangerous because they’re soliciting money from people.”
The actress reiterated, “I’m not on Facebook, and I’m not asking anyone to be friends with me. The only place where I interact with strangers is on Cameo. I’m truly sorry if anyone has been misled or scammed.”
In her Instagram caption, Pauley urged her followers to remain vigilant. “BEWARE. For REAL,” she wrote. “There are numerous fake accounts out there impersonating me, and it’s awful. I am NOT on Facebook, and I do NOT have any other Instagram accounts. I’m only on Cameo. I apologize if anyone has been affected by these imposters.”
Supportive fans quickly flooded the comments section, with one writing, “This is so wrong. We need to help Pauley protect against these scammers. It’s not your fault, Pauley. We love you!” Another added, “Love you, Pauley. Thank you for keeping us informed.”
This isn’t the first time Pauley has had to address fake accounts. Last April, she warned her followers not to fall for accounts pretending to be her, emphasizing that her official handle is @thepauleyp. “Please report any fake accounts you come across. They try to interact with you as me, but it’s not me, and it’s unfair to deceive people this way,” she stated.
