FARGO, N.D. (KVLY/Gray News) – A North Dakota woman said she was the target of a scam where she lost $900 to a man claiming he was country music star George Strait.

“I’m getting scammed,” Cynthia Kile said in an interview with KVLY. “When it actually happened, I was denying it.”

Kile said this scam was going on for months. After initially clicking a link on Facebook, she was asked to join a George Strait fan club.

The Fargo woman thought she was talking to the real music star and was told to pay money to join the club. This would happen multiple times when the impersonator would ask Kile for more money.

“If you are a celebrity, why are you asking me for money? You make more money than I’ve ever seen in my life,” Kile said.

Kile said the scam was starting to have a negative impact on her relationships. She was draining her money despite being on a limited income.

Eventually, she sought help after her boyfriend intervened, and she spoke with a pastor and counselor.

The Federal Trade Commission’s website warns people against scams like this, cautioning people that con artists will pretend to be from an organization you know.

They may also pressure you to act immediately and pay them in a certain way.

The FTC recommends blocking unwanted calls and text messages to avoid scams.

Copyright 2022 KVLY via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Start of the Scam: A Facebook Link

Cynthia Kile first encountered the scam when she clicked on a link on Facebook, which led her to a page claiming to be associated with George Strait. The page promised exclusive access to a fan club for the famous country music singer. At first, Kile was skeptical but ultimately believed the link could be legitimate.

“I’m getting scammed,” Kile admitted in an interview with KVLY. “When it actually happened, I was denying it.” Kile didn’t initially think she was being scammed, which is a common reaction for many victims of online fraud. Scammers often use familiar names, logos, and icons to create a false sense of trust and legitimacy, making it harder for victims to recognize the deceit.

The imposter, posing as George Strait, convinced Kile to join the purported fan club. Kile was asked to pay money to gain membership, a request that seemed odd to her but was not entirely out of the ordinary in the world of exclusive online clubs. The scammer used this initial step to gain Kile’s trust, making her more willing to send money in subsequent stages.

The Cycle of Deception

As the scam continued, the imposter kept requesting more and more money from Kile, convincing her that the payments were necessary to maintain her fan club membership and to access exclusive content. At first, Kile was reluctant to part with her money but was reassured by the scammer’s persistence and convincing tone.

“If you are a celebrity, why are you asking me for money? You make more money than I’ve ever seen in my life,” Kile said, expressing her confusion over why someone with such wealth would need to ask her for financial help.

Despite her doubts, the scam continued, and over several months, Kile sent nearly $900 to the fraudster. As time went on, she began to see the toll the scam was taking on her emotional well-being and personal relationships. “It was draining me financially, and it was starting to impact my relationships,” Kile said. “I was on a limited income, and this was becoming really difficult to handle.”

Seeking Help and Breaking Free

Fortunately, Kile was not alone in recognizing the problem. Her boyfriend intervened, urging her to stop sending money and to seek help. Realizing the scam was affecting her life more than she had initially realized, Kile decided to speak to a pastor and a counselor. With their support, she was able to break free from the scam and stop sending money.

Although Kile’s financial losses were significant, she was grateful to have recognized the situation before it could escalate further. She shared her story to help raise awareness of the dangers of online scams, especially those involving impersonations of celebrities and well-known figures.