Actress Valerie Bertinelli has taken a bold step to protect her fans from online imposters. On October 15, she shared a heartfelt message on social media, urging her followers not to fall prey to scammers pretending to be her. The "Hot in Cleveland" star made it clear that she is deeply concerned about the deceptive tactics being used in her name.
Bertinelli kicked off her Instagram video warning with a candid statement: "Some people have been scammed under my name, and I don't like it." She explained that these imposters might approach fans through direct messages, posing as her or her associates, and then ask for money or friendship. "It's not me. It's not anybody that works for me," she asserted.
"This internet is just… it can be so great, but it can also be really f----d up, so please protect yourself," she told fans.
The 65-year-old actress stressed the importance of keeping personal and financial details private. "Please don't give out any of your information, any of your credit card information, to anybody that says they're me, or someone who works for me, that's asking for money, 'cause I'm not gonna do that, ever," she urged.
Fans quickly flooded the comments with gratitude and stories of their own encounters with online scams. One fan shared, "I see this a lot and I report them. Stay aware and safe," while another recounted receiving a suspicious request on TikTok, saying, "I definitely got a request on TikTok from someone pretending to be you and I was like 'nah that's not my home girl'."
Valerie Bertinelli is not alone in this battle against online scammers. Other celebrities have also stepped forward to warn their fans about similar dangers. Recently, Sheryl Crow's official Facebook moderators issued a warning about imposters targeting "grown men" with fake messages. Over the summer, a fan of "Yellowstone" actor Kevin Costner lost over $60,000 due to a scam, and "Virgin River" star Martin Henderson has repeatedly cautioned his followers about such threats.
The internet's dual nature as a place of wonder and potential harm is evident, and Bertinelli's message is a timely reminder for everyone to stay vigilant. "Be safe. Love you," she concluded, leaving her fans with a sense of care and community.